National
Andrew Wilkie supports NBN rollout
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, today announced he will not support Malcolm Turnbull’s bid to appoint a committee to oversee the rollout of the NBN and refer the investment for a cost benefit analysis.
Mr Wilkie said the Federal Opposition Broadband Spokesman’s Motion and Private Member’s Bill were unnecessary, had the potential to delay the roll out of the NBN and were politically motivated.
“This is a strategic nation-building project that will prepare Australia for the future,’’ he said.
“It is in the interest of Tasmania, where the roll out has begun and people are already being connected to the NBN, and the nation, to get this rolled out as quickly as possible.
“It’s time to get on and get it done.’’
Mr Wilkie rejected the Opposition’s call for a cost benefit analysis on the NBN, arguing the long-term and technical nature of the project made it unsuitable for the sort of short-term business modelling envisaged by the Opposition.
“For example, if a cost benefit analysis had been done on the copper wire network it would never have been laid,’’ he said.
“Its architects could never have predicted, decades on, that a network designed for telephones would be carrying high-speed internet.’’
Mr Wilkie said the Government had committed to releasing the NBN Co. business case.
“I’m satisfied that business case will be released for scrutiny,’’ he said.
He also said he was satisfied NBN Co could be adequately scrutinised through existing parliamentary processes including three estimate hearings a year.
“A Joint Select Committee of the type Mr Turnbull proposes is an unnecessary addition to the standing oversight mechanisms of Government,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“This should be beyond politics, the decision has been made, it’s already being built, let’s put our shoulders to the wheel and get on and build it.’’