Hon David Cunliffe
Minister for Communications and Information Technology
25th June 2008 Media Statement
Treasury Reports bode ill for National’s Think Big
Treasury advice to the government on its Broadband Budget spend underpins the fact that National’s Broadband Plan is
utterly profligate said the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, David Cunliffe.
“Treasury papers released this week question both the size and some of the policy direction behind the Government’s
Broadband plans, however that is what I rightly expect from a responsible Treasury.”
“What is important about this is that our proposal is supported by advice from the Ministry of Economic Development .It
is lean and effective and contrasts strongly with the National’s proposal which is utterly profligate and badly
designed.”
“Heaven knows what Treasury would have said about National’s plan for an unregulated capital tender of a billion and a
half dollars .Treasury were urging us to be fiscally prudent and not to crowd out private investment and we can put our
hand on our heart and say we have done that.”
“The Government’s broadband proposal is strong in design quality and reflects a responsible stewardship of public money.
The Broadband Investment Fund simply means more bang for the taxpayer’s buck.”
”By contrast National can’t even sort out what its own policy is. Maurice Williamson has this week promised to have 75
per cent of New Zealand homes hooked up to Broadband within 6 years. Mr Key, by contrast would give no time scale to
National’s ‘aspiration ‘. My advice is that 75 per cent fibre coverage would cost the country at least $ 5 billion
dollars ,” said Mr Cunliffe .
ENDS