Malcolm Turnbull Really, Really Doesn’t Want To Talk About The NBN’s HFC Problem

Question Time was a fun time for our country’s democratically appointed leader yesterday, he got to talk about his favourite thing – the NBN! More specifically, the absolute clusterf*&# that is the NBN’s HFC network.

So does the NBN plan to dump parts of the HFC network? Um, we still don’t know. But we do know what HFC stands for, again, – thanks, Malcolm Turnbull?

NBN's HFC Network Is Costing Taxpayers A Whole Lot More Than Anyone Ever Imagined [Updated] Late last year NBN announced an immediate halt to any new Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial connections while it worked on "improving the service for existing customers", a move which was tipped to cost taxpayers between $420 to $790 million, according to NBN's own figures.</p> <p>Today, NBN's half yearly result showed an increase of $450 million in costs to the HFC network - an increase that Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says isn't even including the costs of the "halt". Read more

“HFC stands for Hybrid Fibre Coax, and the coaxial cable is made out of copper.”

That was Turnbull’s response to the query about the future of the HFC network.

Not an opening statement, not an explainer that went on the provide more detail. The whole answer.

I mean, I know politicians are notorious at dodging questions but this is a whole other level.

In regards to the PM’s lack of info on the topic, Shadow Minister For Communications, Michelle Rowland, says “There is no escaping the fact the over-budget and underperforming HFC rollout is letting Australians down.”

“It has been 120 days since the HFC rollout halt was announced. Australians impacted by the unexpected delays deserve greater transparency about what comes next.”

The NBN HFC Rollout Delay Could Cost $790 Million, According To NBN's Own Figures Yesterday it was announced that NBN was putting an immediate halt to any new HFC connections while it makes "crucial upgrades" for existing customers. An analysis of the 2016 NBN Corporate Plan, approved by the NBN board and signed off by Shareholder Ministers, shows the cost of this action could cost taxpayers between $420 to $790 million. Read more

Turnbull Slammed Over NBN HFC Delay: 'What Have You Been Hiding?' The Shadow Minister for Communications has asked Malcolm Turnbull the question many have been thinking. "What are you hiding from the Australian people about the HFC network? What have you been hiding?"</p> <p>The question comes following the announcement from NBN HFC rollout has been "paused" - effective immediately - while work is carried out on existing connections. Read more