Hume MP Alby Schultz has continued to criticise federal Labor for its rural broadband plan, saying two percent of rural residents are destined to miss out on the technology.
As reported last week by IBN News, Mr Schultz has slammed the government for its proposal to take money from the Communications Fund - worth $2 billion - to help pay for telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas.
The Liberal backbencher said there would be no money left for upgrades or maintenance on country telco services if that money was taken from the fund.
Now the long-serving MP says everyone should be able to access broadband.
“With an expected $30 billion budget surplus, the Rudd Labor Government cannot possibly need to touch the Communications Fund to build its national broadband network which they tell us will cost less than $5 billion," he said.
“Already Labor is missing the point with this national roll-out," he said.
"Labor says it wants to improve the minimum broadband speed for 98 percent of homes and businesses. And what about the other 2 percent?"
“The communications fund is specifically aimed at meeting the communication needs of the commercially “too-hard-basket” – so why should 2 percent miss out?"
"The money is there in the Communications Fund to make sure they get their fair share of access to any national communication network. It is definitely not okay to leave them off any national communications network."
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