Australia: PM Albanese promises $3 billion broadcasting network boost as election battle intensifies

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a $3 billion upgrade to Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN), promising faster and more reliable internet services by 2030. The investment aims to upgrade over 620,000 fibre-to-the-node connections, with a focus on rural and regional areas.

“When Australians own their NBN, high-speed internet remains affordable for all Australians, and only Labor will deliver this,” Albanese said in a press statement in Canberra. He emphasised the importance of internet infrastructure in driving the nation’s productivity and economy.

“Labor built the NBN, just like we built Medicare and superannuation”, Albanese added.

The upgrade will ensure more than 11 million homes and businesses can access speeds of up to 1Gbps, compared to the current average of 76.64 Mbps. Communications minister Michelle Rowland called the project a "long-term investment" that will provide essential connectivity for modern digital demands.

According to ABC, NBN Co CEO Ellie Sweeney highlighted the increased need for faster internet, stating that households now consume ten times more data than when the network was first built. "This is the final piece in the puzzle,” Sweeney said.

The funding announcement has rekindled debates over NBN ownership. Albanese accused the opposition of seeking to privatize the network, referencing the Coalition’s parliamentary vote against legislation to maintain public ownership.

“When the Senate sits again, they will have a choice of whether they support the NBN staying in public hands or vote to allow it to be flogged off to private interests,” he said, as reported by 9News.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton dismissed the government’s focus on the NBN, instead accusing Labor of failing to address rising crime and antisemitic attacks. He pledged $7.5 million to Crime Stoppers and promised to reinstate mandatory citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day if the Coalition wins the election.

Government-commissioned modelling by Accenture, cited by ABC, suggests the upgrades could deliver a $10.4 billion economic boost over the next decade. Albanese underscored the NBN's importance for telehealth, education, and job creation.

The rollout will be partially funded by $800 million from NBN Co and is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.