NBN Roll Out: Labor Electorates Win While Most of Mitchell Misses Out

 Tuesday, 24 April 2012

The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, has said the announcement of Stage 1 of the large-scale rollout of the National Broadband Network recently by NBN Co and the Government is a big slap in the face to the residents of Mitchell.

“The Rollout shows work scheduled to be started within the next three years, yet 75% of suburbs in our electorate are simply not on the map. Too bad if you live in Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Maraylya, Northmead, North Rocks, Rouse Hill or Winston Hills, said Alex Hawke.

“In comparison the neighbouring marginal electorate of Greenway which sits on just a 0.88% margin will see more than double the amount of suburbs connected with 58% of the electorate set to be connected within 3 years. But also too bad if you live in Acacia Gardens, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds or Quakers Hill, you’re set to miss out.

“Coming in second, the electorate of Parramatta, which sits on a bigger margin for Labor at 4.37% will see 35% of suburbs within the electorate connected in 3 years. But again, too bad if you live in Dundas Valley, Carlingford, Granville, South Granville, Holroyd, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Dundas, Ermington, Guilford, Merrylands, Merrylands West or Northmead.

“Looking at these comparisons it is clear that Labor is distributing the NBN first to the most marginal suburbs in the most marginal seats.  But even then, this distribution sees many suburbs miss out altogether, Alex Hawke said.

“For $37.3billion of government expenditure that Labor has poured into this project that it is not good enough. The Labor party continues to play a game of post code pick and choose when it comes to Western Sydney. Local families and small businesses should send a message to Labor that this is not good enough,” concluded Alex Hawke.