Release: Rushed rollout of NBN threatens Sydneysiders

Release: Rushed rollout of NBN threatens Sydneysiders

The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance, the nation’s largest taxpayer advocacy group in representing taxpayers, today warned Sydneysiders of the impending NBN rollout. Rather than letting consumers use the internet and phone service of their choice, the government is forcing them onto a subpar substitute.

ATA Policy Director, Emilie Dye, described the compulsory cutoff as "atrociously planned, much like the whole of the Nation Broadband Project."

"Over 63,000 homes and businesses will be surprised to find themselves without phone or internet service come Friday should they fail to transition to NBN-based plans beforehand. The move is expected to cause disruptions to vital business services like EFTPOS, phone, and online sales.

"First, we had the debacle of deciding what kind of network to build. Once the government managed to finally build the network, they left taxpayers with a $51 billion bill. Then in an attempt to incentivise Australians to use their shoddy service, the government tagged an extra $7.10 onto the internet bill of anyone not on the NBN. Now they are cutting tens of thousands of people off from the 21st century for the sin of not using their expensive, poorly-performing, borderline obsolete service.

"Consumers choose the internet service providers that best fill their needs while meeting their budget requirements. They don't need the government telling them what they want. Or as in this case forcing them onto a system, they don't want."