I refer to a letter Senator Williams wrote to the Independent, where he accused the Rudd Government of “raiding” the $2 billion quarantined into the Future Fund (of which the interest component would help improve – future-proof? – regional communications) to help fund the NBN. (I believe at that time Mr Rudd stated that the “raid” was a loan only).
How does this compare to the Howard Government selling off Telstra for tens of billions (an organisation funded over many years by Telstra subscribers) and lodging tens of billions of those monies in the Future Fund to finance Federal politicians’ and public servants’ superannuation funds? (I would have thought taxpayers funds should have financed them).
The sale of Telstra meant that the privatised organisation was unwilling to provide optical fibre to homes, businesses, hospitals, schools etc.; and instead to telephone exchanges only.
The Rudd Government introduced the NBN because it knew the benefits of optical fibre to all of the above, and Australia as a Nation. It is extremely unfortunate that so many Australians have been hoodwinked by the Abbott Opposition into believing that its inferior alternative will serve the Nation satisfactorily into the future.
I accept that living in Invergowrie the best I can expect will be copper wire or wireless (like many other less populated locations in Australia).
But imagine, for example, how the NBN would improve the business capacity of a Company like Eastmon Photographics in Glen Innes. This Company is purported to employ 10 per cent of the working population of Glen Innes.
The digital transfer of pictures (graphics, videos, data of all types), conferencing, consultations (to cities…even overseas) are only part of the possibilities now and into the future. What is possible now with existing services, will be so much more effective with the NBNs’ optical fibre.
Tony Windsor has served our electorate well and has achieved many gains for Regional Australia particularly with the hung parliament. We get so much rhetoric from Senators Williams and Joyce, but little in the way of positive results in our regional electorates.
Ken Brown,
Invergowrie
