Review’s not answer to NBN woes

AFTER five damning NBN reports in 12 months, the Turnbull Government has taken the unprecedented action of – wait for it – swiftly ordering another review.

This week, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman ( TIO) revealed consumer complaints about the NBN have gone through the roof.

The TIO revealed a 204 per cent increase in NBN complaints and a 39 per cent increase in complaints across Queensland.

Predictably the Government, NBN Co and the phone companies are saying the blame lies with someone else. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

All the reports from the ACCC, ACMA, Parliament’s Joint Select Committee and the TIO point to the same problems:

The initial installation goes wrong on too many occasions ( one in three, according to the ACMA);

The old copper network, and much of the HFC network, is not up to scratch – a fact, even NBN Co admits;

Customers are bounced between service providers and the NBN with no one taking responsibility.

I’m sorry, Mr Turnbull, but it’s not another review we need; it’s swift action. It’s time to ditch the unreliable copper, legislate for strong consumer rights and put a tough cop on the beat to help consumers who are sick of being caught in your game of NBN ping- pong. STEPHEN JONES MP,

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications.