As PM Kevin Rudd announced the first regional towns to get broadband would be in marginal seats in Tasmania, the Opposition was still being asked to pay almost $24,000 to find out – under freedom of information provisions – why and how the Government decided on its broadband policy.
Scottsdale and Smithton will get broadband first, Mr Rudd announced in late-July 09.
Meanwhile, the Opposition wants documents on the initial tender process abandoned by the Labor Government, as well as documents containing advice to Labor before its shock decision to build a $43 billion high-speed internet network.
Opposition Communications spokesman Nick Minchin says the FOI charge makes a mockery of the Government’s election campaign pledge to be open and transparent. “It’s now surrounded this multi-billion dollar broadband network with the greatest wall of secrecy,” he said. “[It] wants to charge the Opposition $24,000 to better inform the public about the basis for spending $43 billion.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/23/2633771.htm?section=australia
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in Tasmania for Labor’s state conference in Hobart, named the towns to get broadband first as Scottsdale in Tasmania’s north-east and Smithton in the north-west.
They will be connected by the end of 2009. Mr Rudd has announced that Midway Point in the south is also on the list.