TAMWORTH TO SUFFER UNDER JOYCES COPPER NBN

18 November 2017

Labors Stephen Jones and David Ewings said Tamworth would suffer under Barnaby Joyces failed copper-NBN.

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Stephen Jones MP, said the Coalitions poor technology choices had been an absolute disaster for regional Australia.

In New England, the Coalition was supporting the digital divide with Armidale, Tenterfield and many northern towns receiving superior fibre NBN whereas Tamworths 19,000 premises would receive second-rate copper.

Time and time again, we see that the outdated copper technology is just not up to scratch. Just last week we saw the ACCC and Retail Service Providers pass their verdict on the copper-NBN having to refund thousands of customers across Australia for being unable to meet their advertised internet speed.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) received a 160 per cent increase in NBN complaints in the last year alone. Business and consumers are fed up with the poor speeds, the faults and the failures.

Labors Candidate for New England, David Ewings, said New England was a clear example of the Coalitions digital divide.

Reliable, high-speed broadband is vital for our regions future. Its vital for towns and cities like Tamworth to attract new jobs, industry and keep families local.

We know that fast broadband and access to data will underpin the economy of tomorrow but under the Coalition, the NBN is just not delivering.

Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce cant hide from the fact that their copper-NBN has been an utter failure.

Stephen Jones said business, consumers and experts all agreed - we need to fix this mess but the Coalition are asleep at the wheel.

Its time they swallow their pride, admit they got it wrong and put in place tough new measures to guarantee a better service for the community.

Enough is enough. Australia cant afford to keep spending billions on an NBN that is not delivering.