Turnbull defends alleged hypocrisy over NBN
- 22 November, 2010 14:39
- Comments 3
Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has dismissed accusations he has acted hypocritically on his stance against the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, and Treasurer, Wayne Swan, have both come out to criticise Turnbull’s $10 million dollar investment in web hosting company, Melbourne IT. They said Turnbull in fact supports the NBN since Melbourne IT has openly said it would reap benefits from the NBN.
Speaking on 2GB radio, Turnbull said he is holding the NBN to account, despite a company he invests in would gain from the network, proves he is an honest person.
“[T]he fact that I am holding the NBN up to account and endeavouring to stop $43 billion being wasted would just show that I am a person of great integrity whose personal investments don’t influence his public policy,” he said. “…They’re criticising me for putting my public duty ahead of what they claim is my financial interest.”
Turnbull pointed out some Labor members have shares in Telstra, which is set to pocket $11 billion through a non-binding agreement to decommission its copper lines and migrate consumer customers onto the NBN.
The Shadow Communications Minister took the opportunity to lash out at a deal the Federal Government struck with the Greens which involved submitting the sale or privatisation of the NBN to be assessed by the Productivity Commission.
The NBN would be opened to be privatisation five years after its construction.
“So they want to have the Productivity Commission Inquiry into whether you would sell the $43 billion investment well into the future but not to have it done as to whether you should make the investment in the first place,” Turnbull said. “It is bizarre, and this is why right around Australia, even people that think they are pretty sympathetic and they think it probably sounds like a good idea, even those people are saying ‘hang on, shouldn’t we do our homework first? Shouldn’t we have a good look at this, this is a lot of money’.”
Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.
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Comments
Kevin
Turnbull, turncoat, loadabull or whatever nickname is bestowed upon him, has my head spinning.
Actually a good nick for him would be tumbull
Max Clark
GOD, When is this idiot turnbull going to shut his mouth and realise that the NBN is GOOD FOR AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIANS. I say it is money well spent unlike what the libs etc have to offer which is only a bandaid solution for an old out of date system. Yes doing it the libs way is cheaper but in the long run it WILL COST AUSTRALIANS MORE and offer less and cause more angry frustrated customers. Bring on the NBN and let Australians surf the net like other countries do NOW.
TURNBULL - IF YOU CANNOT BETTER THE NBN THEN SHUT YOUR MOUTH AS WE AUSTRALIANS ARE SICK TO DEATH OF HEARING WHAT COMES OUT OF IT. Wake up and smell the roses sunshine the NBN is the way forward whether you like it or not.
Frank
Clearly the people who insist "Turnball" shut his mouth have never run or owned any sort of commercial entity. A reminder, If this is taxpayers money the government is spending, why cant we know the cost's associated with it, why does it need to be a surprise, or more likely like a surprise blowout.
I pay taxes, which means, ,I like many taxpayers, are paying for this NBN. No one in the Labor party has any record lately of getting projects under budget, NO ONE!
I couldn't write a cheque to a builder to build my home without looking at the contract, specifications etc. I couldn't give my car to a mechanic without him quoting me what it will cost to fix it. Why is everybody so hell bent on NOT CARING on how there taxes are spent by this government?
If you haven't got it by now, ALL WE WONT TO KNOW IS HOW MUCH WILL IT COST-BIT BY BIT- Simple isn't it.
I wish Labor got it- I wish!
PS- No need to get personal people, Turnball is a very astute business person- Far more qualified then most reading this.
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