3. Hon PAUL SWAIN (Labour—Rimutaka) Link to this
to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology
What reports has he received on new initiatives for digital development?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) Link to this
I have received a report from the Independent Financial Review saying “… it was no surprise to see a more sensible plan than National’s to push broadband in last week’s Budget.” The Labour-led Government’s plan includes a $500 million - plus starting 5-year investment in a 10-year vision of delivering fibre or fast bandwidth to the home, the refreshed Digital Strategy 2.0, and today’s announcement of the Digital Development Council.
Given that I am a former Minister, I should know the answer to this: what other reports has the Minister seen on the alternative plans for digital development in New Zealand?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The former Minister should be forgiven—there are so many. I have seen one recently that says that National’s plan is “widely dismissed” in the telecommunications sector: “Quite simply, National has not contributed at all to the national debate that has reshaped the telecommunications sector in the 9 years that it has been in Opposition. Its naivety and ignorance shows.”
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
What conclusions has the Minister reached in respect to the policy of allowing a monopoly like that of Telecom, which has price gouged New Zealand businesses and consumers for the last 18 years without competition, despite the fact that Treasury recommended back in 1998 that there be serious competition to Telecom, and which, further, has put $1 million into the National Party’s account? What would be wrong with allowing that company to have a monopoly? [ Interruption] Oh yes, they did.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The member makes an important point that the lessons of history appear to be slowly learnt and quickly forgotten.