Broadband

Mr Fletcher asked:

In respect of a report prepared for the Minister‘s Department Financial and externality impacts of high-speed broadband for telehealth (Access Economics Pty Ltd, July 2010), where the costs and benefits of ubiquitous high speed broadband on the health sector were assessed: will the Government consider extending the assessment to cover the impact of the National Broadband Network on all sectors; if not, why not.

Mr Albanese responded:

No. The impacts of the National Broadband Network will differ in different industry sectors and the detailed data required to undertake a robust cost benefit analysis of the impacts on all sectors does not exist. As part of the development of strategies to maximize the benefits of the National Broadband Network and its impact on Australia‘s digital economy, the Government will continue to commission targeted research into areas where use of the National Broadband Network has the potential to deliver significant benefits.