MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY


DODGY NBN GRANT TO BARNABY’S ELECTORATE DELIVERS FIBRE AT 200 TIMES THE USUAL COST

 The Morrison-Joyce Government must explain why the Coalition spent $520,000 of taxpayers’ money to connect a single business in Barnaby Joyce’s electorate with fibre.

The cost of this connection is, on a per-premises basis, nearly a staggering 200 times more expensive than the average cost to connect a premises with optical fibre. 

Media reports indicate Mr Joyce wrote a letter of support to the Minister for Regional Communications seeking the grant for the Costa Group. 

It’s unclear whether the letter to the Minister disclosed ownership of shares in the Costa Group, as has been reported in Mr Joyce’s declaration of interests.

How embarrassing for Minister Fletcher, who had this to say in November about Labor’s plan to expand fibre into regional communities at exponentially lower cost:

“It’s clear that what Labor proposes here is more wasteful government spending of taxpayers money. That’s what Labor does – because that’s what Labor is good at.”

It turns out Labor’s spending is 200 times more efficient than Fletcher’s grant.

Labor has announced a positive NBN plan which, if elected, would provide up to an additional 660,000 regional households with access to full-fibre connectivity.

In contrast, the Coalition remains engulfed by technological ineptitude and an inability to manage taxpayers’ money. 

Australia cannot afford another three years of Morrison and Joyce.

THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2022  

MEDIA CONTACT: PNINA HAGEGE 0402 394 790