Bartlett making the most of Tassie's NBN

Stuart Corner
Friday, 23 October 2009 10:36

Opinion and Analysis

At the 8 April photo opp, Bartlett promised that "This new National Broadband Network will begin rolling out in Tasmania as early as July 2009, before a full national roll-out in early 2010."

Come July and with little to show. Bartlett made much of tender put out by Aurora Energy for optical fibre, but, as iTWire observed , this did nothing more than create an illusion of progress.

Then there was the joint venture between Tasmanian horizontal drilling specialist, Apache Services (Tasmania) and Abigroup, clearly formed with an eye on NBN business. Another opportunity for Bartlett to talk up the NBN and a photo opportunity: being snapped inspecting the installation of some fibre. Trouble was, this was Aurora Energy fibre, not NBN fibre.

Then finally - some real progress. Bartlett joined Conroy on 24 September to announce commencement of work on the Cambridge to Midway Point section of the NBN in Tasmania.

But the JV that Bartlett had talked up only weeks earlier as Representing "the first wave of new investment and job opportunities in Tasmania as a result of the optic fibre roll out" didn't get the job. It went instead to a JV between ASX listed Lucas Group and French company Groupe Marais SA.

That might mean fewer local jobs, but never mind; Bartlett could boast "Once again Tasmania is leading the way - this technology is the first of its kind to be used in Australia."

And there was one "local company" involved: Nu Energy. Bartlett was rather reticent about providing details. Not surprising really. Nu Energy is Melbourne based and claims to be "the largest supplier of solar electricity systems to the residential market on a national basis." We're not sure what role they play in the NBN.

Expect to be drip fed many more tasty NBN morsels from the premier's PR machine, and take each with a liberal pinch of salt.