035/05
15 April 2005
Coonan Welcomes Broadband Action in Queensland
Queenslanders will benefit from a new broadband network being rolled out in rural and regional Queensland under a joint Commonwealth/State communications project Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said today.
Senator Coonan said she welcomed the announcement that the final stage of the project was going ahead, delivering improved health and education services to 81 towns and communities across regional Queensland.
In July 2002 the Australian Government pledged $8 million from the Australian Government's $50 million National Communications Fund (NCF) to roll out a broadband network to regional communities in Queensland, including broadband to schools, TAFEs and hospitals.
“Unfortunately the Queensland Government dragged its heels in implementing the project – a problem that I raised in Federal Parliament in early March,” Senator Coonan said.
“I am pleased that the Beattie Government has responded today to the concerns of the Australian Government and the Queensland public.
"I am keen to work with all States and Territories, to ensure that we can better coordinate broadband investment across jurisdictions - but I expect them to keep up their end of the bargain and deliver improved services in an acceptable timeframe.
“In recent visits to rural and regional Queensland I have seen how important this technology can be and its potential to simply transform the way people live and do business.”
Background on NCF
The National Communications Fund (NCF) was a $50 million program designed to improve the delivery of education and health services in regional and rural areas of Australia by means of improved communications.
It sought and received more than $60 million in matching contributions from State and Territory governments, making the total value of the infrastructure worth more than $110 million.
By funding large-scale telecommunications projects through the NCF, the Government is also enabling new network infrastructure and/or enhancing the capabilities of existing network infrastructure.
The successful NCF projects and their respective Commonwealth funding grant are:
Multi-state
New South Wales and Northern Territory Interactive e-Learning Initiative-$8 million
New South Wales
Health and Education Information Access for Rural and Regional NSW-$3.5 million
Northwest and New England Broadband Telecommunications Network-$5.5 million
Queensland
outbacknet@qld-$8 million
South Australia
Regional Network Delivering Education Services-$6 million
Tasmania
Tasmanian Health and Education Communications Consortium- $3 million
Victoria
Grampians Rural Health Alliance Network-$8 million
Western Australia
Network WA-$8 million