Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Hockey and Turnbull continue to mislead about NBN cost
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today called on the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and Opposition Communications Spokesman Malcolm Turnbull to stop misleading the Australian public about the cost of the National Broadband Network.
“The Government released the 2012-2015 NBN Co Corporate Plan provided by the NBN Co Board on 8 August. That plan stated the capital cost of the NBN will be $37.4 billion.
“Since then both Mr Hockey and Mr Turnbull have claimed that the cost could be as high as $100 billion," Senator Conroy said.
“This is false and inaccurate.
"The NBN Co Corporate Plan is informed by the agreement with Telstra and signed construction contracts.
“The Corporate Plan was prepared by the experienced executives of NBN Co, and was approved by the highly qualified independent NBN Co Board.
“Mr Hockey's and Mr Turnbull's outrageous claims effectively accuse the NBN Co executive and board of being negligent in their duty.
“This is a disgraceful slur on NBN Co. They should apologise immediately and stop misleading the Australian public."
Date: 3 October 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457
