Senator Conroy – the Truth, the Whole Truth & a few ‘Porkies’ thrown in for Good Measure

29/07/11

“Despite spending $50-Billion dollars on the National Broadband Network, only one Tasmanian Government School is connected to the Network and that’s a trial with limited download to just one classroom, a fact that seems to have escaped the attention of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy,” Senator Eric Abetz said today.

“Launching the NBN in Kiama in NSW today, Senator Conroy excitedly reported to the assembled media that schools in Tasmania are now using the NBN and “reporting their enthusiasm”.

“The fact is Senator Conroy’s comments couldn’t be further from the truth.” Senator Abetz said.

“Of the limited number of schools in Tasmania that actually have access to the NBN, only a couple of private schools are willing and able to pay for the expensive NBN connection.”

“As far as Government schools are concerned only one, Smithton High, has a limited trial, which is delivering a low speed connection to just a single classroom,” Senator Abetz said.

“Thanks to State Labor’s bungling, none of the other Government Schools in the NBN rollout areas are even able to connect to the service due to State Government contractual obligations with other providers.”

“This is typical of Labor’s bungling and its over enthusiastic spin, tell the story sprinkled with half truths, throw in a few porkie-pies and hope the Australian people buy it.”

“Despite Senator Conroy’s comments today, there’s not much “enthusiasm” in Tasmania at all,” Senator Abetz said.