Labor Takes Steps to Prevent NBN Privatization, Opposition Argues service lacks Competitiveness
The opposition suspects that introducing a bill to keep the National Broadband Network (NBN) in public hands might be a tactic to divert attention from the prime minister’s remarks about Tourette’s syndrome.
The Albanese government has brought a bill to Parliament to maintain the NBN under public ownership.
The NBN project, costing $51 billion (US$34 billion), was originally announced in 2007 by the Rudd Labor government. It aims to provide faster internet connections nationwide through a fiberoptic network.
The federal opposition criticized the timing of this announcement, suggesting that the bill’s introduction was a deliberate move to shift focus away from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s comments about Tourette’s on Oct. 8.
NBN Belongs to the Public: Albanese
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that the NBN was constructed by Australians and is a public asset.
“This legislation aims to secure the future of the NBN, preventing its privatization,” he stated in Parliament. “It ensures that every Australian, regardless of their location, can rely on affordable, dependable, fast internet service that is publicly owned and accessible to all.”
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NBN Service Not Competitive: Opposition
In response, Liberal Member for Casey Aaron Violi criticized the rushed introduction of the bill as a distraction for the prime minister.
Violi highlighted instances where the NBN service failed, such as during a festival in the Dandenong Ranges, a region prone to storms and bushfires.
He also noted an increase in NBN satellite costs and compared the figures to Elon Musk’s Starlink service, which has gained more users.
Violi’s concerns were echoed by Libertarian Senate candidate Jordan Dittloff, who praised Starlink’s performance over the NBN.
“The government should follow Japan’s model and exit the internet business,” Dittloff added.
Labor Ministers Support NBN and Public Ownership
Labor Communications Minister Michelle Rowland justified the bill by expressing distrust in the Coalition to preserve the NBN under public ownership, referencing past privatization of Telstra.
“By retaining NBN in the hands of the Australian public, the government fulfills its promise to deliver high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband to everyone.”
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher disclosed a $2.4 billion investment from the Oct. 2022-23 budget to extend fiber access to 1.5 million premises by 2025.
“The NBN is vital national infrastructure, and a faster, superior quality network has a significant impact on Australia’s economy, projecting a $400 billion GDP increase by 2030,” Gallagher stated.
“Analysis shows that every one megabit per second rise in broadband speed contributes to a 0.04% GDP growth rate on average.”
Albanese’s Apology for Tourette’s Comment
Albanese issued an apology after his remark towards Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor during Question Time on Oct. 8, where he mentioned Tourette’s syndrome.
He added, “I also extend my apologies to all individuals coping with this condition.”
