THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
STEPHEN JONES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES, TERRITORIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MEMBER FOR WHITLAM
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FACE UP TO THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR COPPER NBN
Reports that the ACCC are looking to recruit 4000 volunteers to help measure internet speeds is a welcome move, but this will not solve the underlying problem that Malcolm Turnbull's NBN relies on second-rate copper connections.
Australians were promised fast and reliable broadband at affordable prices, yet this Government has shown consumers nothing but contempt. Unfortunately as Malcolm Turnbull's copper NBN rolls out its becoming increasingly clear that its reliance on outdated technology is leaving consumers stranded with slow speeds and unacceptably high drop-out rates.
Members of Parliament are getting a lot of complaints about these issues, particularly in the areas covered by Malcolm Turnbull's copper technologies. Last year the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman also found that new complaints about faults on the NBN soared by almost 150 per cent last year, and there was a near 50 per cent increase in new complaints about internet data speeds.
This problem is worse in regional areas who are stuck with more copper in the ground than any other area in the country.
The most disappointing aspect of this situation is the Turnbull Government has sought to blame everybody but themselves. This lack of accountability is leaving Australians rightly frustrated and angry.
Measuring internet speeds is important, but this wont take away from the main problem the $50 billion price tag to deliver a second-rate NBN reliant on last century's copper.
This policy failure in both the NBN's economics and engineering means that consumers are paying the penalty for Malcolm Turnbull's incompetence.
The Australian people are paying for internet services they are simply not getting. This requires all relevant parties to work together and deliver in the long term interests of consumers.
MONDAY, 6 MARCH 2017
