The Hon Gary Gray AO
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
Member for Brand
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Senator Mark Bishop
Senator for Western Australia
GG 74/12
13 December 2012
Special Minister of State Gary Gray and Senator for Western Australia, Mark Bishop, today inspected the final stages of National Broadband Network construction in Victoria Park, and saw the first fibre being hauled in the streets.
“Next year, the first people in the Perth metro area will start to be able to connect to the NBN. It’s very exciting to see the final stages of construction here in Victoria Park, with the green fibre actually going into the ground,” Senator Bishop said.
The rollout of the NBN in Western Australia is well under way, with fibre being rolled out to more than 105,000 homes and businesses across the state, including around 20,600 in Victoria Park and the surrounding suburbs.
Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, said the rollout is now in high gear across the state.
“By mid-2015, fibre construction will have commenced or been completed to connect 429,200 homes and businesses across Western Australia. This work is another sign that the NBN rollout is ramping up across the state.”
Mr Gray said the rollout means new opportunities for Western Australia.
“High-speed, reliable, affordable broadband via the NBN will bring enormous opportunities for West Australians. The education, businesses and health sectors are set to benefit dramatically from the NBN with its speed and reliability able to support services like video conferencing and sending and receiving large files.
“High-definition video conferencing means a child at school could take a specialist class – even if the teacher taking it is in a school on the other side of the country. Older Australians will be able to stay in their homes for longer, because they’ll be able to be monitored remotely.
“And the NBN means businesses across the state – however big or small – will be able to reduce costs, increase their efficiency and grow by reaching new markets around the world.”
| Media Contacts: |
|---|
| John Arthur (Minister Gray's office) - 0408 991 261 |
| Adam Sims (Senator Conroy's office) - 0408 258 457 |
| Marie Liau (Senator Bishop's office) - 0488 914 221 |