Senator the Hon John Hogg
Senator for Queensland

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

More NBN jobs for Queensland as Roma chosen for satellite ground station

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Labor Senator for Queensland, John Hogg, today announced that Roma in Queensland will be one of the ten towns across Australia that will host a National Broadband Network (NBN) satellite ground station.

"This ground station will bring jobs to Roma and act as an essential satellite gateway for the NBN’s long-term satellite service, helping deliver fast, affordable, and reliable broadband to rural and remote communities across Australia," Senator Conroy said.

"For too long, people living in rural and regional Australia have had to live with second class telecommunications infrastructure, but through the Gillard Government's investment in the NBN all Australians will have access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband.

"Like water and electricity, the Gillard Government sees fast broadband as an essential utility that should be made available to all Australians, no matter where they live.

"The construction of this ground station will help create around 30 direct jobs in Roma, with building set to begin early next year," Senator Hogg said.

"The rollout of the NBN across Queensland is ramping up, with construction to be commenced or completed for 122,700 homes and businesses by the end of the year.

"From seeing your local doctor from home, to your kids being able to take a specialist class at another school – the NBN will change the way people in Queensland live, work, and access services."

The Roma satellite ground station is the eighth ground station announced, joining Bourke and Merimbula in New South Wales, Ceduna in South Australia, Geeveston in Tasmania, and Moonyoonooka, Binduli and Carnarvon in Western Australia.

Date: 16 October 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457