Labor leader Anthony Albanese promises high speed internet to a million homes in major election pledge

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has pledged to roll out high speed internet to a million homes if he wins the next election.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is promising to roll out high speed internet to over one million households and premises in the outer suburbs areas in a major election pledge.

As the countdown starts to a federal election that is now expected in March or May, voters are getting their first real taste of the big policy announcements.

“Covid-19 has demonstrated that reliable, quality, high speed internet is not a luxury or a nice-to-have,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“Our plan will run fibre into the street and give Australians who rely on copper wire connections the choice of having fibre connected into their home, if they want faster speeds than their NBN copper can deliver.

“Owners of these properties, mainly in the outer suburbs of our cities and in regional areas, were dudded by the Coalition when it took an axe to Labor’s original NBN design in 2013. It is estimated 660,000 premises in the regions will benefit from this plan, and 840,000 in the suburbs.”

Anthony Albanese speaks to the media.

Under an Albanese government, the Labor Party is promising that 90 per cent of Australians in the fixed line footprint — over 10 million premises — will have access to world-class gigabit speeds by 2025.

“Labor will also keep the NBN in public hands, keeping internet costs for families affordable while ensuring improvements to the network,’’ he said.

“Families need reliable, fast connections for school and work, small businesses and entrepreneurs need it to stay competitive, regional communities need it for all those reasons, and as a matter of safety.

“Our plan will give Australians who now rely on copper wire connections the choice of having fibre connected directly into their homes if they want a faster NBN speed than their copper can deliver.

Labor estimates the plan will also help create 12,000 jobs for construction workers, engineers and project managers.

Anthony Albanese said former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has short changed Australians.

The policy is also likely to annoy former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with Mr Albanse accusing him of going for a cut-price NBN rollout that short-changed Australia.

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