With Prime Minister Julia Gillard calling a federal election for Saturday August 21st there are some key technology issues that will effect you and both the major parties have differing opinions. Here are the big topics that will shape Australia's future IT and communications.
1. National Broadband Network
One of Labor's promises at the 2007 election was to build a national broadband network and bring Australia's communications in line with other technology advanced countries. At the time, details were thin and we only knew that it would consist of connecting fibre optics to "communication nodes" in neighbourhoods.
Going into the 2010 election, the plan has since been revised and we now know that the NBN will offer fibre optic, capable of up to 100 megabits per second, to ~96% of Australian households, businesses, schools and universities. The remaining ~4% will be covered by next generation satellite and 4G wireless.
Phase 1 of the NBN went live in Tasmania at the start of July with the first customers being hooked up to their choice of several ISP's participating in the trial. Phase 2 is currently in build and several mainland sites have been chosen to participate in the trial which should commence by the end of the year.
Labor has said it is committed to rolling out the NBN at a cost to taxpayers of $43 Billion over the next 8 years. The plan was recently strengthened with a non-binding $11 Billion deal with Telstra for exclusive access to Telstra's ducts for laying new fibre and the handover of laying all new fibre in greenfield estates starting 1st January 2011. Essentially the deal is the beginning of the end for Telstra Wholesale and its obligations under the universal services obligation which will in effect be handed to a new division under the NBN Co.
The Coalition has been a staunch opponent to the NBN and Tony Abbott has publicly announced that if elected they will halt the NBN and instead revive the Howard government's communication fund. At the 2007 election the Coalition's plan was to fund the upgrading of nearly every exchange in Australia with the help of Optus and Elders (OPEL) to enable better competition for regional areas.
It's still not entirely clear what the Coalition is bringing to the table at this election but it certainly is clear that if they're elected they will immediately down tools on the NBN.
UPDATE: Since writing this article it has come to light that the Coalition is planning to revive the $1.9 Billion OPEL contract and fund a further continuation of installing fibre optic backhaul into known blackspots currently without any competitive wholesale connections. The Coalition also plans to give more discretionary powers to the ACCC to resolve disputes. (Source: The Australian)
2. Mandatory Internet Filtering
The Internet Filter has been a serious source of contention amongst tech circles since it was announced by the Labor government at the 2007 election. At the time the filter was to consist of two parts, a mandatory component that would block child pornography and an opt-in/opt-out "Clean Feed" that consumers could choose to subscribe to. The Clean Feed was to block anything unsanitary for children's eyes.
Since the 2007 election, the Labor government has pushed forward with a new form of filter proposal, one that would block all Refused Classification material. This new proposal has drawn extensive criticism and has since been put on hold pending a review until after the election, should Labor be returned to power. (Source: DBCDE Website)
The Coalition remains divided on internet filtering with the former Howard government having set up a program offering free filters to any Australian home for free. Labor dismantled this program calling it a failure.
The National Party recently voted to oppose the filter saying it had been inundated with complaints from constituents. (Source: APC Mag) In Cairns on Sunday 18th July, Joe Hockey let slip that the Liberal party's position on the filter was one that they could not support. Whether this is true or was just banter to a question asked by the member of the public is yet to be determined. (Source: No Australian Net Filtering Blog)
Warren Entsch, the Liberal party candidate for Leichardt has publicly condemned the internet filter and says he is opposed to any form of internet censorship. To date, Mr Entsch appears to be the first Liberal party member who has gone on public record opposing the filter. (Source: Cairns Blog)
The Greens have publicly opposed the net filter from the very beginning arguing that net censorship should never be enforced on a free society and will block any move by Labor in the senate should it be introduced as legislation. (Source: Greens Official Website)
3. Telstra
Still an ongoing issue is the discussion on whether to separate Telstra, either structurally or operationally. The Labor party has said they're in favour of separating Telstra in one way or another to encourage competition, but as it stands with the latest deal on the NBN it may not be required any more. (Source: News.com.au)
The Coalition has said they're reviewing the discussion but stopped short at saying anything that effects the shareholders in a negative way could not be supported by the party. (Source: Liberal.org) It was of course the Howard government who privatised Telstra and it appears the Coalition would rather distance themselves from the issue as much as possible.
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