Senator Barnett today asked Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett why his Government had sat on their hands on the Basslink fibre-optic cable issue since 2004.
“The Basslink energy cable was completed in 2004 and contained a fibre-optic link capable of increasing Tasmania’s broadband capacity. The cable has lain dormant since then, as the Tasmanian Government has been unable to come to an agreement with Basslink’s owners” Senator Barnett said.
“Tasmanian taxpayers have been paying close to $2 million a year in rent for a cable lying dormant on the sea floor. This is a disgrace.
“Tasmania needs a second wholesaler providing broadband to the state to provide competition and a better outcome for Tasmanian consumers. Premier Bartlett needs to ensure that the Basslink fibre-optic cable is commercialised and lit as soon as possible.
“Until he does, all his talk of making Tasmania ‘clever and connected’ is just that. Talk.
“As for waiting for Federal Labor’s National Broadband Network, the likelihood of the NBN even touching on Tasmania by 2012 is looking more and more remote. The tender process has been a shambles, and the plan looks to start in the major cities and grow out to the regions, leaving Tasmania as a last priority.
“Expensive broadband hurts Tasmanians the same way high fuel and grocery prices do. At some point every product uses the internet. Expensive broadband is holding us back in key areas like health, education, and business.
Senator Barnett held a Communications Forum in Launceston on 11 June this year, attended by key Tasmanian ICT industry stakeholders as well as the HonBruceBillson, the Shadow Minister for Broadband.