Revealed: The next Qld postcodes to get NBN under Labor’s plan

The Queensland suburbs and towns that would be next to get high-speed broadband under federal Labor’s plan have been revealed.

Regional Queensland towns such as Emerald, Gympie and Maryborough, as well as outer suburbs such as Nambour, Darra and Southport, are among the areas which would be able to access full-speed internet under Labor’s $2.4 billion plan to upgrade the National Broadband Network.

The Federal Opposition will also announce today a campaign commitment to give free broadband for a year to up to 30,000 families of schoolchildren with no internet at home.

Mr Albanese said the Covid-19 lockdowns made it clear how vital the internet was for schooling, as students had to learn from home.

“This experience regrettably revealed some schoolchildren did not have access to any home internet, and this compounded an already very difficult school year,” he said.

“This will help extend unconnected children the opportunity to benefit from the internet and not be disadvantaged.”

Eligible families would be identified by schools, state education departments and local community organisations.

It followed Mr Albanese announcing on Wednesday that a Labor Government would spent $2.4 billion to extend the full-fibre NBN to 90 per cent of homes – just shy of its initial vision for the NBN of reaching 93 per cent of premises.

“The LNP’s decision to abandon the original vision of the NBN and instead roll out second-rate technology has suffered multiple cost blowouts and delays and, as it stands, is $28 billion over budget,” he said.

It would be expected to reach suburbs and towns which currently cannot access full speeds including Emerald, Gympie, Maryborough, Nambour, Darra and Southport.

It followed the Federal Government announcing a $4.5 billion upgrade of the NBN to expand full-fibre access to three-quarters of all fixed-line customers by 2023.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the Coalition “inherited a trainwreck” when it came to power in 2013.

“Nothing in what Labor is now proposing adds to our existing commitment before 2023; NBN is fully committed to delivering the existing upgrade,” he said.