blog It seems Liberal MPs all around Australia just can’t stop demanding that the National Broadband Network be rolled out in their area. The Federal Member for Farrer in rural NSW/Victoria, Sussan Ley, is the latest to come to the party.

Ley tells the ABC:

“Our biggest complaint with the Government on this is that every citizen should be able to go in to a website that’s run by the NBN, click on their location and find out when they can expect the NBN to come to their area … It is great that the backhaul network, the fibre-optic cable is built between Mildura and Broken Hill and I would have thought that that would allow an accelerated delivery for the NBN but unfortunately we are getting no indication that that is the case.”

As I wrote about the Coalition Victorian Government’s similar love/hate approach to the NBN, Ley’s words simply beggar belief. The MP is surely aware that it is not Coalition policy to support the NBN — and she gives lip service to this in the article, referring to the fact that the NBN fibre could be ‘outdated’ by the time it hits her electorate. But her far greater issue appears to be that it could take a while for the infrastructure to arrive there.

From where I’m standing, the Coalition’s messaging on the NBN is a real problem right now for it. The lack of a coherent, nationally agreed upon NBN policy of its own (Malcolm Turnbull’s half-baked attempts notwithstanding) has left the Coalition’s backbenchers without a consistent message to take to their constituents on the issue. The result has been that many MPs have started to revert to their default positions on any issue — representing those constituents’ issues.

And, it appears, the default constituent view on the NBN, especially in rural areas, is: “When can I get it? Can I get it soon? Can it be accelerated?” Funny, that.

Image credit: Timo Balk, royalty free

Related posts:

1. Liberal MP missteps in NBN Co ad rage
2. Blatant hypocrisy: Victoria demands NBN “fair share”
3. Filter fighter + Liberal young gun: Jamie Briggs
4. Vic IT bungles Labor’s fault, says Liberal Minister
5. Conroy and Husic fight over NBN rollout

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1. Nick
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 1:27 pm | Permalink | Reply

   I don’t get how optical fibre can even be outdated?
   Unless we determine how to put packets of data on neutrinos.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 1:45 pm | Permalink | Reply

     lol @neutrinos

     But yeah, I agree — I don’t think fibre could get outdated any time within the next few decades.

     • Rich
       Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:10 pm | Permalink | Reply

       It depends on the type of fibre and how it is rolled out.

       For instance, if fibre is installed for 10G services, then it will likely have periodic dispersion compensation modules. These would restrict the ability to use the fiber for 100G which might use post processing and avoid the need for DCMs. There is also the question of regens, amplifiers etc.

       Fibre is (ideally) a single piece of glass between two points, the engineering considerations to make it work over long distances should not be dismissed as trivial.

   • Hubert Cumberdale
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:24 pm | Permalink | Reply

     “I don’t get how optical fibre can even be outdated?”

     That’s easy to answer when you live in the fantasy world of the wireless startrek geeks. They believe that a magical wireless technology will be able to deliver 1.1gbps to 100% of Australia by 2016. They want this tech on their iPads so they can pretend life is a startek episode.

     • Spiraldeath
       Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:39 pm | Permalink | Reply

       @Hubert I couldn’t disagree more anyone who lives in a fantasy Star Trek world would be smart enough to have read up on the subject matter and come to an educated opinion. Your short sighted ill conceived analogy probably just insulted 95% of the NBN supporters.

       • Hubert Cumberdale
         Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:56 pm | Permalink | Reply

         Not an analogy. This is an observation about a select group against the NBN. I doubt I “insulted” 95% of the NBN supporters. Any NBN supporters would be smart enough to know the difference between a wireless startrek dreamer and one that understands the limitations of all technologies involved.

         • alain
           Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:08 pm | Permalink | Reply

           Coalition policy has never stated wireless will replace fixed line, I for one never have either, but perpetuating myth underpins much of pro NBN argument including yours, so nothing new under the sun there.

           • Hubert Cumberdale
             Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:15 pm | Permalink | Reply

             “Coalition policy has never stated wireless will replace fixed line, I for one never have either”

             I never mentioned the coalition policy or you in my comment. Please learn how to read and comprehend things properly. Here it is: This is an observation about a select group against the NBN. Did you miss it? Pay attention this time: This is an observation about a select group against the NBN. Note the words “select” and “group”. Also note the absence of any reference to you or the coalition, one more time for good luck: This is an observation about a select group against the NBN.

             • alain
               Posted 31/10/2011 at 5:41 pm | Permalink | Reply

               What select group?

               • Hubert Cumberdale
                 Posted 31/10/2011 at 7:46 pm | Permalink | Reply

                 First sentence: http://delimiter.com.au/2011/10/31/further-liberal-hypocrisy-on-the-nbn/#comment-187995

                 • alain
                   Posted 31/10/2011 at 8:16 pm | Permalink | Reply

                   Yes but WHO are they, are they a identifiable group or a figment of your imagination?

                   ” They believe that a magical wireless technology will be able to deliver 1.1gbps to 100% of Australia by 2016. ”

                   Who has actually said this?

                   • Dean
                     Posted 31/10/2011 at 8:59 pm | Permalink |

                     And he wonders why nobody takes his seriously anymore…

                   • Hubert Cumberdale
                     Posted 31/10/2011 at 10:06 pm | Permalink |

                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CqUZ04UWRk4#t=68s

                   • alain
                     Posted 01/11/2011 at 10:34 am | Permalink |

                     @HC

                     No answer, so I guess you made it all up, oh well that’s consistent with most pro-NBN argument especially from you, 99% BS.

                   • Hubert Cumberdale
                     Posted 01/11/2011 at 10:39 am | Permalink |

                     Derp!

     • mr3oh7
       Posted 01/11/2011 at 12:02 am | Permalink | Reply

       Yeah but a lot of people don’t understand that, and the coalition wants people to believe the NBN will only have a short lifespan and therefore a waste of money.

2. alain
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 1:41 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Renai you pot stirrer, if there are three key headlined words that are guaranteed to create a smoking emotive filled usually no fact Delimiter discussion they are – Liberal – NBN – hypocrisy, any one by itself is sufficient!

   :)

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 1:44 pm | Permalink | Reply

     lol I couldn’t help it in this case … if you read the ABC article, Ley’s comments are just glaring.

     • captainmatty
       Posted 31/10/2011 at 3:37 pm | Permalink | Reply

       I had to hit my head against the table a few times in that article…

3. toshP300
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 1:52 pm | Permalink | Reply

   the cows need their daily fibre.

4. Brendan
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:08 pm | Permalink | Reply

   NBN is evil! Such decedent spending! the cheek! fifty billion! where’s the plan?! oh the humanity!

   Why can’t I have it now? The government should give it to me now.

   Liberal’s issue is that their constituents, the people that (supposedly) are whom they speak for – want the NBN. So in the absence of an actual policy (we’re up to.. uh, iteration 19, now, I think?) they will indeed echo a line that is counter to Liberal policy.

   • toshP300
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:35 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Liberal + tin cans = 2013 federal landslide

   • Hubert Cumberdale
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:45 pm | Permalink | Reply

     That’s the coalitions broadband policy for you. It’s no wonder they are regarded as hypocrites now:

     “OMG no one even want the NBN! OMG it is a waste blah blah blah, OMG NBMco should roll out the fibres to our coalition seats first!!! REALLY GUYS give us the waste first so we can not sign up for any NBN plans to prove how much of a waste it is! OMG WE R GENIUS PARTIE VOTE ME ME ME ME!!!”

     • toshP300
       Posted 31/10/2011 at 2:50 pm | Permalink | Reply

       you left out “BU BU BU…”

       • Hubert Cumberdale
         Posted 31/10/2011 at 3:03 pm | Permalink | Reply

         That’s kind of redundant. Anyone reading the article already knows they are blithering idiots.

         • toshP300
           Posted 31/10/2011 at 3:58 pm | Permalink | Reply

           you need to get a vocabulary make-over.

           • Hubert Cumberdale
             Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:07 pm | Permalink | Reply

             You need to get a clue and a vocabulary make-over.

             • Renai LeMay
               Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:09 pm | Permalink | Reply

               Both of you need to get a room ;)

             • toshP300
               Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:15 pm | Permalink | Reply

               nah, i can move like jagger….

               • Hubert Cumberdale
                 Posted 31/10/2011 at 4:32 pm | Permalink | Reply

                 Sorry, I know that you are trying your hardest to communicate something here but all you seem to be doing is more “BU BU BU BU BU BU” :-(

   • alain
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 8:20 pm | Permalink | Reply

     “Liberal’s issue is that their constituents, the people that (supposedly) are whom they speak for – want the NBN.”

     You know this how?

     • Trittium
       Posted 02/11/2011 at 1:13 pm | Permalink | Reply

       Seriously alain, do you even bother to read the actual articles any more? Or do you just jump right into the comments section – ready to make yourself look like a fool?

       Here is what was said in the original article:

       “The result has been that many MPs have started to revert to their default positions on any issue — representing those constituents’ issues. And, it appears, the default constituent view on the NBN, especially in rural areas, is: “When can I get it?Can I get it soon? Can it be accelerated?” Funny, that.”

       The fact that liberal MPs are talking about why they aren’t getting access to the NBN in a timeframe that they want it means that they are responding to issues that their consituents are raising with them directly. And thats fine, ultimately every MP does represent their consituents. But they also represent a political party.

       Therefore, people in liberal seats (who may not have all necessarily voted liberal of course but if it is a liberal seat you can be assured that a significant proportion would have clearly had to vote liberal) are asking for the NBN and their local MPs are responding.

5. dave p
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 6:39 pm | Permalink | Reply

   It’s pretty clear what’s going on. The Liberals want the NBN connected *today* and for free.

6. Myke
   Posted 31/10/2011 at 8:00 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Let the fat kid gorge himself before he goes on a ‘liberal’ diet.

   “We can’t afford chocolate, Give me all your chocolate.”

   FEE3333$$$$$EEEED ME !

   bah chomp bah chomp bah chewie bah chewie chomp.

   • Hubert Cumberdale
     Posted 31/10/2011 at 10:10 pm | Permalink | Reply

     LOL

7. David O
   Posted 06/11/2011 at 9:00 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Her comments where painful to listen to, fibre optic cable outdated before it is run, can’t people educate themselves just a little before they open their mouths and make fools of themselves by advocating about something they have no idea about?