ALP's broadband vision beats the Coalition's Blueprint

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 22 March 2007 12:01

Opinion and Analysis

Say what you like about the ALP's $4.7 billion broadband infrastructure plan,  but at least it has clarity of vision and goals, something that has been sadly lacking during a decade of Coalition Government.

The goal is clear and simple: 98 percent of the population to have access to broadband services delivering at least 12Mbps over a fibre to the node network within five years, and wholesale access to this network to be available to all access seekers at regulated rates that deliver a commercial return to the investors.

Contrast this with the most recent iteration of the Coalition's broadband policy: the National Broadband Blueprint, released by communication minister Helen Coonan in December (It came as a tome 98 pages long at least one third of which were photos of no value or meaning whatsoever).

It was full of waffle: "In looking to the future, it is essential for all levels of government and the industry to adopt a strategic and coordinated approach to the development of scalable broadband infrastructure. With a number of commercial infrastructure rollouts underway and several more proposed, and with the Australian Government poised to make its largest ever investment in broadband infrastructure, it is timely that Australia adopts a clearly-defined national approach to broadband development."

Hear Hear! And what I hear you ask is this "clearly defined national approach"? Here it is: "The critical next step for broadband development in Australia is for the Australian Government to work closely with state, territory and local governments to streamline initiatives to encourage coordinated investment in next generation broadband infrastructure. A coordinated effort across all jurisdictions based on complementary roles for Australian, state, territory and local governments, is important to maximise the incentive for investment in next generation broadband infrastructure to avoid duplication and to maximise value for taxpayers. Closer collaboration between governments and industry is also important."