The Gillard Government will still continue to fund the rollout of the national broadband network (NBN).

 

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy said the NBN was one of the largest nation-building project in Australia’s history and will deliver affordable, high speed broadband to every home, business, school and hospital.

 

It will drive the economy for decades to come and ensure Australia can take advantage of the economic and social opportunities the digital economy will deliver.

 

Transitioning Australians onto the NBN from the old copper network is a key element of the rollout and will deliver structural reform of the telecommunications sector.

 

Over the next four years, the Government will inject equity into NBN Co (the company responsible for rolling out the network) totalling $18.2 billion to help finance the roll out of the NBN, in line with NBN Co’s Corporate Plan.

 

These are instalments towards the Government’s $27.5 billion equity commitment, starting at $3.1 billion in 2011–12.

 

The Gillard Government has also committed $34.4 million over five years from 2010–11 for the Department of Broadband, Communications and the

Digital Economy to; provide information to consumers and small businesses about the NBN rollout and support them in the migration from the

copper network to the fibre network; technical and policy advice to government on the implementation of the NBN policy objectives; establish an USO

entity and legislative scheme for the changes to the Universal Service Obligation arrangement.

 

In addition, the Government has committed funding of $5.6 million over four years to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to monitor competition outcomes arising from the structural change delivered by the NBN.

 

A further $7.2 million over four years has been committed to the Australian Communications and Media Authority to develop standards and codes to facilitate the rollout.

 

This funding will support the implementation of the NBN including the Government’s objectives to deliver affordable high-speed broadband to all Australians and structurally reform the telecommunications industry.

 

Minister Conroy said the NBN will change the way people live, work and receive health and education services across New South Wales and the ACT, especially those in rural and regional areas.

 

“Minnamurra and Kiama Downs and an area west of Armidale, including the University of New England, are two of the five first release sites where the NBN is being rolled out on mainland Australia,” he said.
 

“Construction on all of these sites is nearing completion with customer trials to commence shortly.”
 

Senator Conroy said telehealth trials will begin in Armidale and Kiama when NBN services go live in these communities later this year.
 

“The trials will focus on high-quality telehealth services for older Australians with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. Services will be delivered to the home, via the NBN,” he said.
 

NBN Co has also announced Riverstone in Western Sydney, and Coffs Harbour as second release sites for the NBN in NSW, along with Gungahlin in the ACT. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
 

Senator Conroy said the NBN was delivering spin-off benefits to New South Wales. NBN Co has awarded a contract worth up to $300 million over five years to Sydney based global company Prysmiam to supply fibre cables and other supplies to NBN Co.
 

New South Wales was also benefiting from the Gillard Government’s $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program, which is delivering 6000 kilometres of fibre backbone access across regional Australia, benefitting around 400 000 people.
 

Senator Conroy said the NBN was also delivering spin-off benefits to Victoria.
 

“A critical link in this fibre backbone network is the 1,137 kilometre, $70.7 million Broken Hill backbone link part of which runs from Broken Hill to Mildura in Victoria,” he said
 

“This Broken Hill backbone link is on schedule for completion later this year.”
 

According to the Senator, Brunswick was one of the five first release sites where the NBN is being rolled out on mainland Australia.
 

Construction on all of the first release sites is nearing completion with customer trials to commence shortly.
 

"NBN Co has also announced Bacchus Marsh and South Morang as second release sites for the NBN, with construction scheduled to begin later this year," he said.
 

Victoria was also benefiting from the Gillard Government's $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program (RBBP), which is delivering 6000 kilometres of fibre backbone access across regional Australia, benefitting around 400 000 people.
 

"A critical link in this fibre backbone network is the 246 kilometre South West Gippsland link, which was recently completed on time and on budget," Senator Conroy said.
 

The investment in Victoria will be $47.8 million as part of the overall RBBP funding. This includes the $15.9 million allocated to providing the South West Gippsland, Sale to Wonthaggi link, and part of the $70.7 million allocated to providing a backbone link from Broken Hill (NSW) to Mildura (VIC), and Shepparton (VIC) to Gawler (SA).
 

NBN Co was also awarded a contract worth up to $1.2 billion over five years to a manufacturer of fibre optic cabling, Corning, which will enhance its Melbourne-based manufacturing and assembly capacity, as well as awarding a contract worth up to $110 million to Warren and Brown Technologies, a Victoria-based fibre optic equipment manufacturer.
 

"NBN Co Limited has also selected a site in Melbourne for its National Operations and Test Facility, which will employ up to 425 people once fully operational," Senator Conroy said.
 

In Queensland an area of Townsville, covering parts of the suburbs of Aitkenvale and Mundingburra, was one of the five first release sites where the NBN is being rolled out on mainland Australia, Senator Conroy said.
 

"NBN Co has also announced Brisbane (inner north), Springfield Lakes and Toowoomba as second release sites for the NBN with construction scheduled to begin later this year," he said.
 

Queensland was also benefiting from the Government's $250 million RBBP which was delivering 6000 kilometres of fibre backbone access across regional Australia, benefitting around 400 000 people.
 

"A critical link in this fibre backbone network is the $125.5 million Darwin to Toowoomba backbone link part which is on schedule for completion later this year," he said.
 

"The investment in Queensland will be $78.8 million as part of the overall RBBP funding."
 

Senator Conroy said the NBN was delivering spin-off benefits to Queensland with NBN Co awarding a contract to Polaris Data Centre for $5 million over five years for a centre in Springfield, south west Brisbane.
 

Across South Australia the construction of a first release site at the regional township of Willunga was near completion with service provider and customer trials to commence shortly.
 

"Modbury and Prospect are two of the second release sites where the NBN is being rolled out on mainland Australia,” Senator Conroy said.
 

“Construction on all of these sites is scheduled to begin later this year."
 

Senator Conroy said NBN backbone infrastructure in South Australia had been completed on time and on budget and people would start to see the benefits shortly.
 

The investment in South Australia will be $34.1 million as part of the overall RBBP funding.
 

This includes the $12.6 million allocated to provide a backbone link to Victor Harbor, and part of the $70.7 million allocated to provide a backbone link from Broken Hill (NSW) to Mildura (VIC) and Shepparton (VIC) to Gawler (SA).
 

"The fibre backbone link means faster and cheaper broadband for families and small businesses in South Australia and I look forward to those services becoming available shortly," he said.
 

In Western Australia Victoria Park in Perth, Geraldton and Mandurah were three of the second release sites where the NBN is being rolled out on mainland Australia.
 

Construction on all of these sites is scheduled to begin later this year, Senator Conroy said.
 

Geraldton residents were already experiencing the NBN infrastructure with the completion of the 449 kilometre fibre backbone link between Perth and Geraldton.
 

The investment in Western Australia was $24.9 million as part of the overall RBBP funding.
 

Sentaor Conroy said the state where the NBN bega, Tasmani, will have work begin this month on the next phase of the netowrk.
 

The rollout will be carried out progressively in the seven communities of Triabunna, Sorell, Deloraine, Kingston Beach, George Town, South Hobart and St Helens.
 

"In total, more than 11 000 premises will have access to the NBN as part of the next phase of the rollout, with services to be available next year," Senator Conroy said.
 

"They will be followed by the NBN rollout in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.
 

The Northern Territory will also see about $46.7 million NBN investment.
 

"A critical link in this fibre backbone network is the $125.5 million Darwin to Toowoomba backbone link part which is on schedule for completion later this year," Senator Conroy said.
 

"Families and small businesses in Darwin and communities along the link can expect to receive faster and cheaper broadband as more competition enters the market."