NBN turf war erupts between Victoria and Queensland

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 14 April 2009 11:12

Business IT - Technology

"Victoria's long-standing contribution to telecommunications in Australia makes its bid to become the home of one of the world's biggest broadband projects perfect sense and will set the state up for years of highly skilled jobs," Professor Evans said.

Recently re-elected Queensland premier Anna Bligh previously claimed her state was the best place for the NBN's future home.

At stake are thousands of jobs. Given forecasts of increasing unemployment, it's no surprise that the states are queuing up to attract the NBN headquarters.

Earlier this month the Federal government announced that it had abandoned plans to implement the NBN using FTTN technology as none of the proposals represented value for money.

Instead, it would build an FTTP network using a corporate vehicle that would be at least 51 percent Government owned. The Government plans to sell its interest in the company to the private sector several years after the NBN is completed.

The new plan has received broad though not universal support from industry players.

Much of the nay-saying has come from the opposition Liberal party, notably from its leader, Malcolm Turnbull, who questioned the project's commercial viability.