Opposition NBN stance is ‘absolutely appalling’: Lundy
- 19 May, 2010 15:16
- Comments 20
Labor backbench senator, Kate Lundy, has described the Opposition’s stance on the national broadband network (NBN) as “absolutely appalling” and “schizophrenic”.
In recent weeks, the Liberal party has come out swinging at the government’s plan to roll out a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network.
Speaking at the National Press Club today, shadow treasurer, Joe Hockey, called the NBN a white elephant and repeated his claim that optic fibre is a “technology bet”.
The NBN has become a key election issue, with the Liberal party set to scrap the endeavour should it take power.
Lundy, however, said the concept of bridging the digital divide, which had informed many previous high-speed broadband debates in the past, had been lost in recent weeks.
“I’ve been talking about the digital divide my whole political career, and even before politics – so that is 14 years. Because I have that history, it is such a no-brainer that we are making this investment,” she said.
“You have the other major party having quite a schizophrenic line about, ‘hurry about and build it, why haven’t you built it?’, to ‘don’t build it yet because we want to see a business case’, to now officially opposing the NBN. It is kind of ignoring that whole history of what has been an incredibly bipartisan: ‘who can do this better, faster, quicker and cheaper for the citizens of Australia?’, which has been the nature of the debate up until now.
“All of my critiques through my Opposition years was 'you can do it better'. There should be better competition, there should be fatter pipes, and there should be less pair gain systems. That character of the debate has been suddenly flipped on its head because the Opposition is now opposing it. I think that is absolutely appalling. I am quite distressed there aren’t enough people within the Liberal party and National party to say ‘hang on a minute, this is a core belief that we have fought out for on terms of who can do it better up until now’."
The barbs have been flying thick and fast in the NBN debate, with several mainstream media outlets now paying more attention to the project since the Government’s emissions trading scheme was put on the back burner.
(See a slideshow: NBN Co details fibre roll-out plans )
Lundy went on to describe the existing debate over the NBN as “quite a big moment in ICT policy, because a universal high-speed access network has always been first base for me in what is important to Australia.
“I’m at a bit of a loss because the Opposition can’t even seek refuge in Telstra, because Telstra has said its copper network is five minutes to midnight. And I know enough about it to know ADSL technology will never deliver what we need as a nation going forward.”
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Comments
Gregaruss
+1 to Kate Lundy's views. Should the Libs get in with this policy, good internet will only be availible to metropolitan areas with considerable profits, or areas that will be subsidised by Governmment - if you are somewhere in the middle, you're screwed.
If we are to move forward into the technological age, we need to consider access to GOOD internet as an essential service and treat it as such.
Simmo
My question is this: is it possible to vote an opposition into non-existence at an election? They deserve it.
Greg
I wasn't aware that Joe Hockey was a physicist. Someone should inform him that, unless significant advances are made in quantum computing and entanglement, fibre is as good as we're ever going to get.
Rev
Howard was always against the NBN cause it wasn't applicable in the fifties so why shold we need it now? Big ears Abbott is a clone of Howard so what do you expect from an opposition that is hopeless.
Steve
Whats the point of the NBN if Conroy is going to place a useless ineffective and expensive internet filter on it..
Mark (not Day)
I find the concept of an Internet filter "absolutely appalling" as do many others, but it doesn't appear to matter, so why should we be concerned with what the Government find appalling.
Raymond
Simmo, Rev,, nice to have the true believers back with your moronic views.
Guy's it's Game Over, get this inside your space vacant heads, NBN is not goping to be built by ANYBODY, ask yourself this,if it is such a great investment and good idea! why havn't any of the mega global commercial Telco's built it before, it's like dealing with the snake oil guy's who sell Lotto winning systems, why on earth would you sell a system that could win you Lotto!
Go and buy a book about Global Warming, at least you can look at the pictures!
Who you going to vote in next time...imbeciles!
Asha
Labor backbench senator, Kate Lundy, has described the Opposition’s stance on the national broadband network (NBN) as “absolutely appalling” and “schizophrenic”.
“You have the other major party having quite a schizophrenic line about, ‘hurry about and build it, why haven’t you built it?’, to ‘don’t build it yet because we want to see a business case’, to now officially opposing the NBN."
Since when does schizophrenic mean indecisive, and since when does a mentally healthy person have the right to criticize an opponent by using the label as an insult?
RS
Raymond, why is it whenever I read your comments, a mans name always pops into my head?
Ooh that man's name is of course "Richard Head"!
Raymond
RS, it does, because you are an Imbecile, get a haircut, and try and get a job!
gnome
You're being unfair, RS, when you compare ol' Ray to that well known contributor Richard Head.
Those that attempt to flame people who simply have alternative views call for a different, well deserved title.
Think of a crossword clue - five letters, starts with T and ends with L.
RS
Not quite the word I would use, although obviously apt anonymous.
I'd say seven letters, begins with F and end with T
And thanks again for reaffirming too, Richard (oops RaymOnd). Or is that Mike or Glen...LOL
Raymond
Anonymous,or is that gutless coward, and RS...LOL get a life you moronic fool,to those of you who have the Public Service jobs...go back and do some work, to the other fools, use the broadband we have now and apply for jobs....LOL
Get this through your feeble minds,NBN with it's 300+ staff, who are all building nothing, being paid by borrowed money from China,(fine one work about their costs in the budget!) NBN will not go ahead!
Raymond
PS: Boys and girls (had to include anonymous) how is the first effort in Tassie performing, any ideas, any feedback yet?
All quiet on the Southern Front is it, come on people, tell me how well it's performing.
Imbeciles
RS
Raymond rather than bagging you, we should all be thanking you… for the endless free entertainment.
You are a scream and a seriously, funny guy, who keeps all so amused with your intolerant, superseded, decades behind the times, comments. “Get a hair cut and get a job”, brilliant stuff, lol.
Sounds like Red from that’s 70’s show (you aren’t him are you?).
You obviously can’t be serious with such idiocy; “no one could possibly be that stupid (could they)???” No one in 2010 actually even thinks this stuff, let alone actively promotes it anymore, do they?
Nice work Raymond, it’s therefore clear you "must" simply be commenting, tongue-in-cheek and taking the **ss, lol…
So thank you for the many, many laughs and please keep ‘em coming.
Ooh and don’t forget to throw in a few racist and sexist one liners as well; they’re always winners too, for those of you with such mentality!
Raymond
RS is that for Retired Sloth, you sent at 15.10 thats 10 mins past 3 in the afternoon, and if you have any further trouble, I can tell you where the big hand and the little hand is on your clock, or, is it afternoon Tea time in some government dept.
I am backing the latter. Nice to see my taxes at work!
Seriously, please tell me your report on the Tassie NBN effort, and more importantly, what is the take up rate? and are therte any massive faults on the network?
It is 7 minutes to 5 you should be awake!
RS
Richard Head (oops Raymo) or is that Reality Check in a previous life, emerges from his latest high flying AGM, lol...How's that $30b NBN of yours going, brainiac...
See what I mean nice one Red (oops Raydude) keep it up, you are the funniest guy on earth. They just keep gettin' better, lol...
If you must know Rayman, RS actually stands for ravishly splendid.
But I'll give you my take on the NBN... when I am good and ready. Until then you keep swallowing the crumbs/bait I give you fool and keep returning when I want you too, oh high flyer, lol
Tell us all about that BIG company of yours again, that's the funniest one, lol...and gee I think I need a haircut...
The crumbs/bait are there again, see you soon, brainiac...
RS
Oops - Ravishingly Splendid...
gnome
Good one, RS, you've got ol' Maysong nicely lined up as the black hole in space where no matter exists, because that's what he is. And he complains that we're using screen names!
Just as well he had some slight entertainment value, although the constant repetition is wearing a bit thin. He's just a legend in his own lunchtime, a one act wonder and then nothing.
RS
I (as you obviously do too anon) love toying with fools and there's obviously, none more foolish or FOS than Raymondo.
He's so much fun to poke the stick with eh? Lol...
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