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Turnbull agrees with Deloitte NBN report

MALCOLM Turnbull says a Deloitte Access Economics analysis does not compare Labor's NBN policy to the coalition's.

Shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull
Shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull

INTERNET speeds cited in a report claiming households will save thousands of dollars a year under Labor's national broadband network are achievable under the coalition's broadband policy too, Malcolm Turnbull says.

A Deloitte Access Economics analysis for the government says the average household would get $3800 in benefits a year by 2020 through using the NBN.

It quantified the savings, in 2013 dollars, for communications, e-commerce, online entertainment services, travel savings, employment by teleworkers and productivity.

But Mr Turnbull, the opposition's communications spokesman, says the report doesn't compare Labor's fibre-to-the-home approach to the coalition's fibre-to-the-node policy.

"It's not an argument in favour of fibre-to-the-premises, it's an argument in favour of everyone having very fast broadband, and I agree with that," Mr Turnbull said.

"But they should have it now.

"The way Labor is going it will take decades.

"The speeds Deloitte are referring to here are all available under our approach."

Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Deloitte Access Economics report showed why the coalition's policy was "bankrupt".

"The NBN will drive innovation, we know it makes economic sense ... we need to do it right, do it once and do it with broadband - the coalition's plan relies on last century's technology," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"The NBN is an essential service that is just as important in the 21st century as water and energy."

Mr Albanese said many students, renters and young people would miss out on the NBN due to the divide in services, and stopping the roll-out would impact on property values.

"If you are looking for a property here in this region of Melbourne, this area will be worth more simply by a turn in history and the timing of the rollout and when it hits particular suburbs," he said.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/turnbull-agrees-with-deloitte-nbn-report/news-story/595ffbb42093727d090474b873e48573