Yet another NBN deception
09-September-2011
People who sign up for the most affordable plans under the NBN will not be able to access online consultations with doctors and health professionals, despite the Government continually promoting this as the primary benefit of the NBN, Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton stated.
Yesterday it was revealed by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy and the NBN Co Chief Mike Quigley that high-definition video conferencing would not be possible on the most basic NBN plan.
“The NBN is proving to be a costly experiment at the expense of the taxpayers,” Mr Coulton said. “The Telehealth services have been a major selling point or should I say con job that the Government has continually stated would be available to everyone under the $50 billion NBN. Now we are told that customers need to be on one of the more expensive plans to access this technology.”
“Minister Conroy stated the NBN would solve the “digital divide” and deliver healthcare services to remote communities. It is now apparent this was just another deception.”
Mr Coulton acknowledges that many areas in his electorate face significant communications issues, highlighting that mobile phone reception is one of the biggest issues that constituents raise with him.
“There is no doubt parts of Australia suffer from poor broadband services, particularly in regional and remote areas. However, much of my electorate does not even have access to mobile phone reception and this is one of the biggest complaints that my office deals with.”
“Overall, the Gillard Government’s $50 billion NBN is an irresponsible plan that will reduce competition and increase the price of internet access. It has been commenced without any evaluation of its costs and benefits, and will not deliver value for money.”
“The Coalition has a plan to deliver fast broadband by improving existing infrastructure, upgrading broadband blackspots, providing subsidies to service uneconomic areas and promoting infrastructure-based competition to drive down prices in the long term.”
“This will mean taxpayers’ liability will be dramatically reduced, consumers will have more choice and cheaper prices and superfast broadband will be delivered much sooner than Labor’s decade-long overbuild of our existing networks.”
“For many constituents in the Parkes Electorate, waiting for the NBN to reach them is like waiting for Independent Members Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott to withdraw their support for the Gillard Government – it just won’t happen.”