Justine Keay (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last night, thanks to the good work of my colleague the member for Lyons, we learnt of plans by NBN Co to slug customers on fixed wireless in regional Australia with an extra $20 per month in comparison to those on fixed lines, particularly those people in cities. People in cities will be paying a wholesale price of $45 per month, but those in regional Australia will now be paying $65. NBN Co, under questioning from the member for Lyons, admitted they intend to charge those customers more. By any measure, this is not fair. In my electorate, the communities of Tullah and Strahan will be paying more. In fact, 8,383 premises in Braddon will pay more. The north-west and west coasts of Tasmania already suffer with poor connectivity and poor access to services. The digital divide between cities and regions continues to grow under this Liberal government. Why should businesses and households in towns on the west coast of Tasmania be treated as second-class citizens under this Liberal government, with one rule for Point Piper and another for those living in regional Australia? I am just wondering what those jelly-backs opposite who claim to represent regional Australia will do about this. Will they stand up for their communities, as I am doing? Will you get your leader, the Deputy Prime Minister, to take action? Now is the time to do that. (Time expired)

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