House debates Questions without Notice

Broadband

Thursday, 21 June 2007 House of Representatives

Lindsay Tanner

Lindsay Tanner Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

2:26 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm the assessment of Gartner mobile and wireless research director, Robin Simpson, that access to the government’s WiMAX broadband network will cost users in rural and regional Australia up to $1,000 in installation costs? Can he confirm that no existing laptop will be able to access the WiMAX network without the attachment of a special network card costing up to $300?

John Howard

John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

No, I will not and cannot confirm it.