MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

SUSAN TEMPLEMAN 
MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE

Reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury or a nice-to-have — it’s essential 21st Century infrastructure. 

Families need reliable, fast connections for school and work, small businesses and entrepreneurs need it to stay competitive, and local communities need it for safety when natural disasters strike. 

That’s why an Albanese Labor Government will boost broadband speeds and reliability in Macquarie by expanding full-fibre NBN access to more homes and businesses. 

Our policy will unlock an optical fibre valley through the Blue Mountains starting from Lawson stretching up to Mt Victoria.  

An Albanese Labor Government will also expand fibre access in areas of the Hawksbury, including within suburbs such as North Richmond and Pitt Town.  

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology delivers speeds up to fourteen times faster than copper, with fewer dropouts, and greater reliability. 

Under Labor’s plan, up to an estimated 15,000 homes and businesses including the following suburbs will benefit from expanded fibre access:  

Blue Mountains 

• Mount Victoria 
• Blackheath 
• Katoomba 
• Leura 
• Wentworth Falls 
• Bullaburra 
• Lawson 

Hawkesbury 

• Pitt Town 
• Mulgrave 
• Windsor Downs 
• North Richmond 
• McGraths Hill 

In contrast, the Liberals’ broadband plan for Macquarie is nothing short of a joke.  

For nearly a decade, the Liberals’ reliance on a copper NBN has been a masterclass in incompetence, causing Australia to slip to 65th in the world on broadband speeds. 

Labor believes the next decade should be one where Australia makes thing here again.  

A key element of our Future Made in Australia plan is a reliable, high speed NBN that will allow Australians to seize on the economic opportunities before us. 

We must seize the opportunity to build back smarter and stronger after the pandemic and this is what Labor’s NBN plan will do. 

Quotes attributable to Michelle Rowland, Shadow Minister for Communications:  
“There is no fiercer advocate in the Parliament for better connectivity than Susan Templeman. She understands the transformative power of fast reliable broadband, as well as good mobile connectivity.  

“Labor’s plan to expand fibre will be of significant benefit to Macquarie residents who have been wholly abandoned by the Liberals when it comes to connectivity.”   

Quotes attributable to Susan Templeman, Member for Macquarie: 

“One of the things that leaves our community most vulnerable in a disaster is a poor NBN service. Having lived through bushfires, multiple floods, storms and Covid in the last two years alone, the communities of the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury know first-hand the importance of reliable communications. 

“The NBN was never about downloading movies; it was about high-speed uploads and downloads to run a business, or access services like telehealth, or being able to work and study from home. 

“I want to see a more robust system and better speeds for local residents, and that’s why I’ve rolled up my sleeves to fight for expanded fibre in the system across our region. 

“I’m proud to be a part of a future Albanese Labor Government’s plan to finally deliver this to our community.”