5. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology
What reports has he received on reaction to proposals to extend high-speed broadband uptake in New Zealand?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) Link to this
Labour’s plan to ensure that all New Zealanders have access to faster, cheaper broadband has been widely welcomed. Michael Cranna, the managing director of broadband performance measurement company Epitro, called our plans “ambitious but achievable”. Ernie Newman of the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand said the Government’s scheme is “particularly focused on rural people and we think that is a good move”. Media are also heralding the arrival of a third mobile plan, with Telstra announcing expanded operations this week. I understand that the National Party spokesman on telecommunications is not allowed to comment.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes. This morning I saw another report criticising the National Party’s broadband policy as “political opportunism and a lot of hype”. That report was from the chief executive of the No. 3 telecommunications company, TelstraClear’s Allan Freeth, who stated that Kiwis know where they stand with Labour—unlike with National, which now says that it could be up to a year after the election before we know what it would actually do. Labour tells the public before the election. Labour’s plan is working. There is $3 billion of investment, with another $1.5 billion leveraged by our funding. The Labour-led Government is committed to encouraging real competition, not a monopoly utility. I seek leave to table a newspaper article with today’s date from TelstraClear noting that the National Party plan—
Madam SPEAKER