Why should local residents in Lalor face a digital divide? With second rate internet access? These internet access problems hit local businesses, students, migrants and young families.

My recent Broadband survey shows suburbs like Tarneit, Truganina, Wyndham Vale and Point Cook are riddled with internet black holes.

In addition, many residents may not be aware that a secret NBN Tax, which will hit every new home owner, was implemented recently, despite no public announcement from the Liberal Government. Currently every new home owner pays an NBN Tax of $600, from 1 July, it will increase to $900.

Why should local families pay such a high price for a phantom NBN?

‘I am pleased to announce, Shadow Communications Minister, Jason Clare will join us for a Broadband Forum and hear firsthand from our local residents about the problems they experience accessing the internet’ said Ms Ryan.

My recent broadband survey also shows;

• Lalor has had no new areas added to the NBN rollout in the last two years, indeed a large section of Wyndham Vale that was previously in the planning stages has disappeared from the map.
  
  
• Many new housing estates are fibre ready, but there are no NBN Co plans to provide fibre. These estates have to rely on wireless access because no new copper is rolled out either.
  
  
• New residents in many suburbs, that do at least have access to ADSL, find they cannot connect due to a lack of ‘ports’ and people wait months or even years for a ‘port’ to become available.

The Abbott Government promised that every Australian would have access to the NBN by 2016. The local situation makes it difficult to see how this promise can be met -another broken promise by the Abbott Government.

Forum details:

April 30th – 6.00pm

Point Cook Secondary College-Theatrette- Boardwalk Boulevard, Point Cook

RSVP to Joanne.ryan.mp@aph.gov.au or call the office on 9742 5800