Senator the Hon Helen Coonan was Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 18 July 2004 to 3 December 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Senator Stephen Conroy is the current Minister for the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

159/07
Wednesday 10 October 2007

Telstra signs agreement with Government to switch on ADSL broadband in more than 200 communities

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, announced today that Telstra has signed a funding deed under the Australian Broadband Guarantee to switch on ADSL broadband for the first time in 211 exchanges across Australia.

“As a direct result of funding provided by the Howard Government, households and small businesses in more than 200 regional communities across Australia will gain access to ADSL broadband.

“I welcome Telstra’s participation in the Australian Broadband Guarantee, along with the other 13 applicants that have been approved to supply broadband under the program,” Senator Coonan said.

Today’s announcement will result in broadband becoming available for the first time in communities such as Hoddles Creek in Victoria, Roseworthy in South Australia and Mount Alford in Queensland.

“The Howard Government knows how important access to fast and affordable broadband is for regional communities. The Australia Broadband Guarantee provides a safety net for all Australians who cannot receive an affordable metro-comparable broadband service. Since 2004, more than one and a half million Australians have gained access to affordable broadband for the first time as a result of per customer subsidies from the Howard Government,” Senator Coonan said.

Access to fast affordable broadband will shortly take another leap forward with the roll-out of the OPEL Network, a joint venture between Optus and rural group Elders. OPEL will build a new competitive state-of-the-art broadband network that will extend high speed broadband services out to 99 per cent of Australian premises and provide peak speeds of 12 megabits per second by mid 2009.

Senator Coonan said the Australian Government’s Australia Connected initiative is a seamless plan that guarantees an affordable broadband service for 100 per cent of Australians regardless of where they live.

“This is in stark contrast to the Labor Party who will leave around 25 per cent of the Australian population stranded under its poorly costed and light on detail proposal.

Media Contact: Frank Peppard 0417 061 969

Communities to shortly receive ADSL broadband for the first time under the Australian Broadband Guarantee

NSW

CARGO CULLEN BULLEN
CURRAWARNA
DOWNSIDE
ELANDS
FOREST REEFS
GOOLOOGONG
OLD GREVILLIA
JIGGI
KOORAWATHA
MULLAMUDDY
MOONEBA
WALLENDBEEN
NYMBOIDA
QUANDIALLA
ROCKLEY
SPRINGHILL
TAYLORS ARM
TULLIBIGEAL
TOTTENHAM
TULLAMORE

BORROLOOLA
BATCHELOR
PINE CREEK

QLD

ALTON DOWNS
ASCOT
BAFFLE CREEK
BAJOOL
BELLS BRIDGE
BUNGUNDARRA
BALLANDEAN
BLUFF
BOONOOROO
BUTCHERS CREEK
CONDAMINE
CLOHESY
C OOBERRIE
COWLEY
DEERAL
DUARINGA
EMERALD CREEK
FARNSFIELD
GARGETT
GOOMBURRA
THE GEMFIELDS
GOOVIGEN
WOWAN
GUNALDA
WOLVI
JARVISFIELD
JONDARYAN
WOODSTOCK
KENNEDY
KOUMALA
KUMBIA
KUTTABUL
MARYVALE
MULGILDIE
MIDGE POINT
MONA PARK
MOUNT ALFORD
MOUNT ABBOT
MOUNT GLORIOUS
MOUNT KILCOY
NARKUNDA
NOBBY
ORMESBY
ORION
PILTON
PROSTON
REDRIDGE
ROADVALE
ROSEDALE
SEVERNLEA
WESTWOOD
SOUTH JOHNSTONE
TE KOWAI
WALLAVILLE
TUCHEKOI
TURKEY BEACH
WIDGEE

BOOLEROO CENTRE
BLYTH
BRENTWOOD
BUTE
C OOBOWIE
CADELL
CURRAMULKA
COONALPYN
EDITHBURGH
ELLISTON
WAROOKA
GLENCOE
GAWLER RIVER
HOPE FOREST
LOCK
WINKIE
WILLIAMSTOWN
WILMINGTON
MINLATON
MILANG
MELROSE
MONASH
MYPOLONGA
MOUNT BURR
MYPONGA
OB FLAT
ORROROO
PORT VICTORIA
PORT VINCENT
RENMARK NORTH
ROSEDALE
ROSEWORTHY
SWAN REACH
TINTINARA
TRURO
TUMBY BAY

TAS

BADEN
BARRINGTON
YOLLA
BOTHWELL
BRANXHOLM
CAMPANIA
GRETNA
HAMILTON
KEMPTON
KOONYA
LYMWOOD
MOLTEMA
NUBEENA
OUSE
WILMOT
PRESTON
WINNALEAH
ROCKY CAPE
SPRENT

VIC

APSLEY
BAMAWM
BARMAH
BASS
BONNIE DOON
BERRYS CREEK
BOOKAR
BUNBARTHA
BARWON DOWNS
YANDOIT
BOOSEY
YEODENE
CAPE BRIDGEWATER
CAPE CLEAR
CORAL BANK
DARGO
DARTMOOR
DINGEE
DOOEN
DRUMMOND
DUMBALK
ECHUCA VILLAGE
ELAINE
YALCA
EVERTON
FISH CREEK
GOLDEN BEACH
GUILDFORD
GREAT WESTERN
WILLOW GROVE
HODDLES CREEK
HARSTON
JAMIESON
KERRISDALE
KIALLA EAST
KNOWSLEY
KONGWAK
LANCE CREEK
LAKE BOLAC
LLANELLY
LONGWOOD
MALMSBURY
WOLLERT
MAUDE
MCEVOYS
MOLYULLAH
NIRRANDA
NELSON
NOOJEE
OUTTRIM
PIRIES
RAYWOOD
STRATHBOGIE
SEASPRAY
ST JAMES
THOONA
TOLMIE
TARWIN LOWER
TOPIRAM
THORPDALE
WAAIA
WALKERVILLE

CARMEL
CARABOODA
YARLOOP
GUILDERTON
GWAMBYGINE
BEAUMONT
MUNDIJONG
MULLEWA
MINGENEW
NORTHCLIFFE
NORTH DANDALUP
TENTERDEN
JARRAHDALE