Statement from Will Hodgman: Liberal Government to capitalise on broadband

Today in a major speech to the Launceston business community I again emphasised that a Hodgman Liberal Government will support the NBN roll-out in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Liberals believe there are great opportunities for Tasmania, as the first cab off the rank, to capitalise on the NBN, and get the jump on our competitors.

As Premier I would work with the Federal Government to ensure a speedy roll-out of the NBN, and then actively pursue ways to capitalise on the benefits it presents to our states.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will:

• appoint a Minister to be directly responsible for Information and Communications Technology and the Digital Economy;
• create the positions of Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer in government. The Chief Technology Officer will put in place a whole-of-government strategy to encourage and create investment and jobs in ICT, while the Chief Information Officer will ensure that the Government itself is taking advantage of ICT in the way it operates and in the public services it provides.
• create a small unit called the Digital Economy Unit at a cost of $500,000 per year, which will answer directly to the ICT Minister;
• actively identify and pursue opportunities for Tasmanian businesses through the NBN, and look at ways to attract new businesses to the state through greater capacity broadband capacity;
• invest in educating and training Tasmanians, and Tasmanian business operators, to build digital literacy and increase the uptake of ICT, increase awareness and build our capabilities; and
• actively pursue opportunities to provide better, more efficient public services – in our hospitals and schools, in promoting regional development and social inclusion, and for the thousands of Tasmanians who interact with government each day, through more innovative, responsive and efficient ways made possible by this technology.

An already announced Liberal policy is to establish a new, expert, body – Infrastructure Tasmania – which will develop a state-wide infrastructure plan for the state within nine months of the election.

The NBN and fibre optic cable is of course vital social and economic infrastructure, and I can today confirm that proper planning of the roll-out of the Tasmanian broadband network will be a critical part of the State Infrastructure Plan.