The Hon Catherine King MP
Member for Ballarat

Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity

NBN switched on in Bacchus Marsh

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, today officially switched on the first National Broadband Network fibre services in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.

"Bacchus Marsh is the first town in regional Victoria and one of the first in Australia to be connected to the NBN's faster and more reliable broadband," Senator Conroy said.

"The NBN will bring exciting opportunities for communities like Bacchus Marsh and I urge everyone who can access the NBN to make the switch so they can experience what the NBN has to offer."

"This switch-on is fantastic for local residents," Ms King said.

"Being among the first communities to get connected means local businesses in Bacchus Marsh will have a competitive advantage.

"The ability to send and receive big files almost instantly means businesses that previously had to stay in capital cities can set up anywhere. Faster, more reliable and affordable broadband means reduced costs for businesses and local families, and the opportunity to improve productivity and create jobs locally."

Local business owner Malcolm Trask, who runs uniformstore.com.au and BM Print, said his currentADSL 2+ internet connection has meant he loses out on work.

"Running a printing business means you're dealing with artwork files that can be more than a gigabyte in size. Without the NBN, we have to use couriers to transfer files – and there's no such thing as same day delivery from Bacchus Marsh.

"The NBN will mean we can send large files instantly – and work for customers anywhere in Australia or around the world. We will be able to offer our customers a better, faster service, and more work means we can employ more staff."

Around 200 homes and businesses can now connect in Bacchus Marsh, with another 6,500 homes and business to come online over the next few months. Across Victoria, construction has commenced or is complete for more than 108,000 homes and businesses.

More than 34,500 Australians have already connected to NBN services.

For more information about the NBN rollout visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout

Date: 22 February 2013
Contacts: Adam Sims, Senator Conroy's office, 0408 258 457
Peter Dwyer, Ms King's office, 0409 866 054

Note to editors:

Stock footage available for media use of the NBN rollout can be found at:http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases > Videos

Photos of NBN events are available for media use and can be found at:http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases > Photos