Federal Liberals still ignoring Tasmanians on broadband
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Tasmanian Labor Senator Lisa Singh today called on the Tasmanian Federal Liberals to support their former Federal colleague and now State MP, Michael Ferguson, in his endorsement of the National Broadband Network.
“It stands to reason that Mr Ferguson would support the NBN because of the huge opportunity it presents for the people of Bass and Tasmania.
“The Liberals’ went to the 2010 Federal election with a broadband policy that Peter Reith has acknowledged completely ignored Tasmanians.
“Their policy then, ‘amounted to a threat to come into people’s homes and rip the Internet out of the wall.’[1]
“Over a year later, the Tasmanian Liberals still don’t have the gumption to stand up to Tony Abbott’s naysaying and do something constructive for the state.
“Instead, the Tasmanian Federal Liberal team would prefer to play politics at the expense of Tasmanians’ access to decent broadband services.
“Their policy still amounts to ripping the Internet out of the wall.”
Ms Singh said that Mr Ferguson was probably reflecting on the NBN rollout in the town of Scottsdale in his electorate, where homes, businesses and schools are already connected.
Ms Singh said that Stage 2 will unlock opportunities for Deloraine, George Town, Kingston Beach, Sorell, South Hobart, St Helens and Triabunna as services become available from March 2012.
“This is yet another example of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate team not standing up for Tasmania.”
[1] The Hon. Peter Reith, Review of the 2010 Federal Election, 25 May 2011, p. 12.