MEDIA RELEASE: SURVEY TO CAPTURE COWAN ELECTORATE'S INTERNET WOES, MONDAY, 17 JULY 2017

17 July 2017

DR ANNE ALY MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR COWAN

 

SURVEY TO CAPTURE COWAN ELECTORATE'S INTERNET WOES

The ongoing poor quality of internet access across the electorate of Cowan has sparked a new survey released this week by Federal MP Dr Anne Aly.

The survey will capture the experiences of people in the electorate in using and accessing the internet, with the results being presented to NBN Co and Retail Service Providers.

Most homes and businesses in the electorate are still without connection to the NBN, with an increasing number of people reporting that their existing internet access was cut off without the NBN being connected.

NBN rollout in Cowan is amongst the slowest in the nation, with the majority of premises in the electorate expected to be connected in late 2018.

These delays in connection to the NBN, and the limited access to other internet services, are hampering businesses within the electorate who often struggle to access reliable service and speeds.

Connection to the NBN has not fixed the electorate’s internet woes, with users reporting unreliable service despite being connected to the Network.

 

COMMENTS: ANNE ALY

“The internet is shocking in Cowan, there’s no two ways about it.

“Businesses are struggling, kids can’t do their homework, and people can’t even do simple things like check their email or use internet banking. It’s affecting peoples’ everyday lives.

“We need a clear picture of the extent of internet access issues in Cowan.

“These results are going to be taken straight to NBN Co, retail service providers and the Turnbull Government. They won’t be able to get away with saying ‘we didn’t know it was that bad’ anymore.

“The Turnbull Government has failed to deliver an NBN for Australia’s future, let alone Australia’s present.”

 

COMMENTS: HANS MOHLE, DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS

“Internet access in Greenwood is not good enough. Many people have gone for years without access, and the NBN rollout hasn’t reached us yet.

“I started a small business to provide internet to parts of Greenwood and other suburbs who previously haven’t had access – we had to do it ourselves, even though NBN is supposed to be on its way.

“Anne Aly has been a great support and we need people like her to keep the pressure on. Her survey will be taken to the people who need to hear about our experiences and it should be taken into their consideration to ensure the best outcome for the citizens of Cowan.”