Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull with Hasluck MHR Ken Wyatt.
Camera IconOpposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull with Hasluck MHR Ken Wyatt. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Libs get on fast internet bandwagon

Sophie Gabrielle, Midland ReporterMidland Kalamunda Reporter

Mr Turnbull answered questions on the Coalition’s National Broadband Network plan at a community forum held in Midland last Tuesday.

Touted as a Liberal ‘leader in waiting’ by many political analysts, Mr Turnbull said the party’s NBN plan would connect fibre optic cable to the existing copper infrastructure network.

‘We should have fibre ” the only contention is whether it should go all the way to houses,’ Mr Turnbull said.

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‘Most of the construction will be fibre optic; it just won’t be going into suburban homes. But schools, universities and businesses should be connected directly to fibre.’

Mr Turnbull said residents who are currently unable to connect to broadband would be made a priority under a Liberal Government.

He also hit back at criticism of plans to use the ageing copper network.

‘People say to me ‘it’s like trying to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge with one lane’ ” but the internet is not a bridge,’ Mr Turnbull said.

‘If you want to have fibre into every premise, you can have it but it will take 50 years and cost billions of dollars.’

‘Under our plan, no one will get less than 25 megabytes of internet speed and most people will have 50 megabytes.’

The forum was hosted by Hasluck MHR Ken Wyatt.

Swan Chamber of Commerce CEO Sandra Wallis said Midland would need a much better internet service to keep pace with burgeoning development in the area.

‘It’s ridiculous to have part of a major centre like Midland with no broadband,’ she said.