National Farmers Federation(NFF) president David Crombie said the Communications Fund had been put in place to “future proof” the bush and should not be used for a one-off upgrade of broadband services.
The Communications Fund was established with proceeds from the T3 sale of Telstra shares. It was intended by Government to be a “locked-box” perpetual fund, with annual interest payments from the fund to be directed to rural upgrades.
“Labor’s policy fails to recognise that there is much more to telecommunications than just broadband, especially in the bush where phone and mobile services are critical to everyday life,” Mr Crombie said.
“Right now, future-proofing rural telecommunications is enshrined in legislation – funded by the $2 billion Communications Fund – guaranteeing future rural service upgrades,” he said
“From interest accrued on this dedicated perpetual Fund, rural telecommunications, including broadband and mobile services, are guaranteed funding for upgrades in the future.”
“The sole purpose of the Communications Fund is to finance solutions to telecommunications inadequacies across regional, rural and remote Australia on a regular basis into the future,” Mr Crombie said.
He said in “a couple of years” when the satellite, wireless and microwave technology became obsolete, there was no Labor plan to continue investment in the bush.
“Rural Australia will be left behind because Labor failed to plan for the future.”
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