National Broadband Network Could Decide Election

Chief executive of the National Broadband Network (NBN) Company, Mike Quigley. Australian telecommunications company, Telstra has secured an $AU11 billion deal ($US9.35 billion) with the Australian Government to develop the NBN, that is expected to provide broadband access to 90 percent of Australian homes, schools and workplaces. It will be rolled-out over the next eight years. WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

The National Broadband Network (NBN) issue could become a key factor in deciding which party forms the next Australian government in what appears to be a hung parliament.

Speaking Saturday night in the National Tally Room in Canberra, Greens leader Senator Brown said, “If the Coalition doesn’t win Government, it will be because of the National Broadband Network. People want to live in the 21st century.”

The Greens have already committed to Labor’s NBN and its telecommunications regulatory reforms. So there is already common ground on the issue and Melbourne’s Greens MP Adam Brandt has said he will back a Gillard Government.

New England’s independent Federal member Tony Windsor is a big supporter of the NBN and has worked productively with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and the NBN Company. Throughout the campaign Mr. Windsor said the top two issues for New England were health and broadband.

Ever since the NBN was announced, Mr. Windsor has been working with local councils, institutions and businesses to prepare the ground ahead of the fiber roll-out and to ensure the electorate maximizes the benefits of broadband.

Mr. Windsor has regularly spoken about the NBN in parliament and has been a strong supporter of Senator Conroy’s efforts to structurally separate Telstra. Equally, he has been harshly critical of the Nationals for not supporting the National Broadband Network.

However, the election outcome has left Telstra in limbo.

Before Saturday, Telstra chief executive David Thodey knew the election would shape the giant telco’s future, The Australian reported.

A Labor win would mean the $43 billion NBN would go ahead--and Telstra would be guaranteed a major role--at the cost of dismantling its vertically integrated business.

On the other hand, a Coalition win would result in the NBN being scrapped and would spare Telstra from structural separation. However Telstra would miss out on the $11 billion peace treaty it brokered with Labor to co-operate with the NBN.

With a hung parliament, Telstra is back where it was a week ago and no more certain of its future.

Telstra has declined to comment on the election result but says it will work constructively with all political stakeholders.