Election: hung parliament

Hung Parliament ABC Elections page

Broadband policy may prove to be the key!

Former National Party members turned independents Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter have all nominated broadband as a key concern. They have supported Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network, which will deliver speeds of at least 100 megabits per second to 93 per cent of the population. Their regional electorates now rely on creaky dial-up connections and sub-par communications services.

The Liberals promised to dump the NBN and have proposed a slow-band plan dependent on ageing copper wire and wireless prone to slowdown because of over crowding. Unlike the NBN, the infrastructure will be privately owned.

Tony Abbott yesterday would not rule out improving his broadband policy.

'I don't want to pre-empt the discussions that I expect will be had over the next few days, just to say that I intend to be very pragmatic, but within the broad policy which we discussed during the election.'

Julia Gillard yesterday talked up the NBN, saying it would help bridge the divide between metropolitan and regional Australia.

The Coalition's broadband package has been criticised by the internet industry and communications experts who argue that Labor's fibre-to-the-home package, while more expensive, will be faster and more future-proof.