Ms WALKER - 2008-10-22
Could the minister please update the House on progress being made in the project to lay fibre optic cable across Arnhem Land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The East Arnhem fibre optics project is a partnership between Telstra, Rio Tinto Alcan, the Northern Land Council, and the Northern Territory government. It involves laying approximately 800 km of fibre optic cable between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy, providing communities along the route with access to high speed broadband. The Telstra crew is based in Arnhem Land and working at an astonishing rate. So far, they have laid more than 640 km of fibre optic cable in lengths of up to 12 km. Telstra tells me they are confident that all the cable will be laid by the end of this calendar year, weather conditions permitting.
This $34m project will connect the communities of Oenpelli, Maningrida, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak, and Yirrkala by optic fibre links to the main optic fibre transmission line between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. The mainland optic fibre will be extended to reach as close as possible to the island communities of Minjilang, Warrawi, Milingimbi, and Galiwinku, with the last leg of the connection being via radio link. The service improvements to these communities will be substantial, and they will be connected to the communications super highway. Access to high speed broadband will remove a major barrier to regional development. It will allow the introduction of virtual classrooms and courts, online banking, interactive professional training, and it will assist in staff recruitment and training. Internet access also is important for the viability of small remote business ventures; for example, in the tourism and art sectors.
The Henderson government, together with the Commonwealth government, has established public targets for closing the gap between outcomes for Indigenous people and other Australians. Reliable high speed broadband services to remote areas of the Northern Territory will be a critical element in meeting these targets.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The East Arnhem fibre optics project is a partnership between Telstra, Rio Tinto Alcan, the Northern Land Council, and the Northern Territory government. It involves laying approximately 800 km of fibre optic cable between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy, providing communities along the route with access to high speed broadband. The Telstra crew is based in Arnhem Land and working at an astonishing rate. So far, they have laid more than 640 km of fibre optic cable in lengths of up to 12 km. Telstra tells me they are confident that all the cable will be laid by the end of this calendar year, weather conditions permitting.
This $34m project will connect the communities of Oenpelli, Maningrida, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak, and Yirrkala by optic fibre links to the main optic fibre transmission line between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. The mainland optic fibre will be extended to reach as close as possible to the island communities of Minjilang, Warrawi, Milingimbi, and Galiwinku, with the last leg of the connection being via radio link. The service improvements to these communities will be substantial, and they will be connected to the communications super highway. Access to high speed broadband will remove a major barrier to regional development. It will allow the introduction of virtual classrooms and courts, online banking, interactive professional training, and it will assist in staff recruitment and training. Internet access also is important for the viability of small remote business ventures; for example, in the tourism and art sectors.
The Henderson government, together with the Commonwealth government, has established public targets for closing the gap between outcomes for Indigenous people and other Australians. Reliable high speed broadband services to remote areas of the Northern Territory will be a critical element in meeting these targets.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016