Labor spokesperson for Macquarie Susan Templeman has criticised the NBN national roll-out plans of the Liberal federal government.
The plan from now until June 2016 includes the start of putting in fixed lines in parts of Agnes Banks, Londonderry, Clarendon, Bligh Park, Hobartville, Richmond, Richmond Lowlands, South Windsor and Windsor.
‘‘What this announcement reveals is that we are seeing the last of the Labor roll-out in the area, as it was planned, but no new additional suburbs,’’ Ms Templeman said. ‘‘If it were up to the Abbott Government, no one in the Hawkesbury would have had optic fibre to their door, unless they paid for it.
‘‘The Government has backed away from the ambitious fibre-to-the-home network that Labor embarked on, which meant that every home and business was able to have optic fibre cables into their premises.’’
Ms Templeman said the rest of the Hawkesbury was going to be left with a ‘‘mish-mash of technologies’’, with most people still reliant on the copper Telstra cables to carry the internet into their home.
“We look likely to end up with boxes on the street and customers who want fibre to their door will have to pay for it themselves.’’
Macquarie MP Louise Markus said since the election the NBN had more than doubled the reach of its network, and the roll-out was an important milestone for the area, with greater certainty for homes and businesses.
‘‘Already, over 10,000 premises have been passed for NBN rollout in Macquarie, with nearly 5000 already activated,’’ she said. ‘‘Nationwide, 1.2 million homes and businesses can now connect to the NBN or have work underway in their area.’’