Australians in rural and remote towns will soon get better access to the internet following the launch of the first NBN Satellite today.
The first of two NBN satellites, commissioned and contracted under the previous Labor Government, was successfully launched into orbit this morning.
Australians living in rural and remote Australia have had to make do with poor internet access for too long.
Labor understands that broadband is an essential utility, like electricity or water. That is why Labor commissioned these satellites in 2012 to give people in the bush access to fast broadband.
Malcolm Turnbull fought tooth and nail against these satellites when in Opposition.
He called the satellites a “Rolls-Royce solution” and “wasteful spending.”
In 2012, when he was Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said:
“There is enough capacity on private satellites already in orbit or scheduled for launch for the NBN to deliver broadband to the 200,000 or so premises in remote Australia without building its own.”
Malcolm Turnbull, Doorstop Interview, 8 February 2012
Fortunately for rural and regional Australians, Labor signed the contracts for delivery of these satellites before the last election.
In a backflip worthy of Nadia Comăneci, Malcolm Turnbull now calls these satellites a “game changer.”
Labor welcomes the belated support from Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party for the NBN Satellite program. As they say, better late than never.
Labor understands the importance of expanding internet access in regional Australia and the launch of these satellites is a concrete example of a Labor Government delivering for the bush.
One up, one to go – we look forward to the second of Labor’s NBN satellites being launched in 2016.
A video of Malcolm Turnbull criticising the satellites can be found here.
THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2015
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
HON JASON CLARE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR BLAXLAND
THE HON JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS
SPOKESPERSON FOR COUNTRY CAUCUS
MEMBER FOR HUNTER
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