Privatisation plan threatens critical broadband project

A sense of déjà vu surrounds the ACT Government’s decision to lean on ACTEW to reconsider its broadband initiative, TransAct. TransAct has a pilot project in Aranda awaiting ACTEW Board approval in ten days time.

The Chief Minister’s directive to ACTEW to go into ‘caretaker’ mode has clearly placed pressure on the board to abandon any long-term research and development investment pending the Government’s plans to privatise ACTEW.

“Tragically, this will be the second time Canberra will lose an important opportunity to lead the way in cutting edge communications infrastructure. In 1996, Telstra canned the ‘Gungahlin Broadband Project’ in an effort to cut their bottom line in the lead up to partial privatisation.

“Liberal Government’s are costing Canberra and Australia opportunities for innovation. The threat to the TransAct pilot project is the latest example of short sighted political agendas taking precedence over long term, meaningful research and industry development.

“The Aranda pilot project will not only bring state-of –the –art technology to Canberra homes but provide a test bed for broadband, Internet and multimedia usage.

“If Canberra loses this project then Kate Carnell can kiss goodbye any credibility she has in terms of promoting the Canberra region as a ‘Silicon Valley’. This project has the potential to ensure that Canberra is at the forefront in terms of taking broadband technology into homes.

“I call upon the ACT Government to give their immediate public support to the TransAct pilot project.

ACTEW will be appearing before ACT Government estimates hearings today. For more information regarding ACTEW’s appearance, contact Simon Corbell at the Legislative Assembly on 6205 0000.

For further comment, contact Kate Lundy or Simon Tatz on (02) 62300 411