SENATOR MARIELLE SMITH
SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE

17 January 2025

Only Labor will finish the NBN, and keep NBN Co in public hands
Families and businesses in Barker need reliable, high-speed internet at an affordable
price, and the Albanese Government will deliver that as we build Australia’s future.

The Albanese Government will make an equity injection of up to $3 billion to expand
full-fibre NBN upgrades, finishing the upgrades to copper, which is a key part of our
economic plan.

This upgrade means up to an additional 40,000 homes and businesses in Barker will
get access to world-class full-fibre upgrades.

This will benefit families and small businesses across Murray Bridge.

This is in addition to the more than 15,000 premises in Barker already able to access
higher speed broadband this year under the Albanese Government’s fibre upgrade
program.

All up, about 100 percent of premises in Barker’s fixed-line footprint will be able to
get speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second once all upgrades are complete.
And the Albanese Government will deliver this upgrade while keeping the NBN in
public hands.

In contrast, Peter Dutton wants to privatize the NBN, reducing service and making
high-speed internet more expensive for Australians.

This was the Coalition’s position in government, and Peter Dutton instructed his
Party to vote against our legislation to keep the NBN Co in public ownership late last
year.

The Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley called Labor’s plan to finish the NBN and
keep it in public hands a “complete joke”.

This underscores why the election presents a clear choice between Labor building
Australia’s future or going backward and paying more under an increasingly reckless
Peter Dutton.

Residents and businesses on copper can check upgrade eligibility at their address
and register to get alerts at www.nbnco.com.au

Comment attributable to Senator Marielle Smith:

“I know how important reliable, high-speed internet is for the Murray Bridge
community - not just for entertainment but for businesses, health care, and
education.
I’m proud to be part of a Government that’s upgrading the NBN and building Murray
Bridge’s future.”

[ENDS]