The opposition’s attack on the national broadband network should focus on how replacing Telstra’s copper wire will lead to higher consumer costs, a federal Liberal MP says.
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull’s criticism of the $36 billion project has centred on issues of scrutiny, like Labor’s refusal to have the NBN subject to a cost-benefit analysis.
But Liberal backbencher Paul Fletcher, a former Optus director, has suggested the opposition use “retail political terms” to criticise the NBN.
Voters should be reminded about how they could be paying more for services like telephone directory assistance.
“Will people end up paying more for basic voice services?” Mr Fletcher told Sky News on Sunday.
“So when the government comes knocking on your door saying `we’re going to turn off your existing phone service – you’ve got to take a new one’, if that means a higher voice price, then there’s a range of other retail political issues.”
The $25 million McKinsey-KPMG implementation study into the NBN, given to the government in May, had recommended higher voice services costs, Mr Fletcher said.
As part of the NBN rollout, Telstra’s copper wires will be replaced with high-speed optical fibres.
Article via Sydney Morning Herald
