Telstra has once again ripped into the Terria consortium’s lack of ability to be able to build a national broadband network. In fact, Telstra has gone as far as to say it is a diversionary tactic and implied that the consortium is not even interested in building such a network.Telstra Public Policy and Communication Group Managing Director David Quilty said today’s media reports had revealed Terria currently has no financial capacity to build the National Broadband Network.
In June, Terria bid manager Michael Simmons deflected concerns about Terria’s lack of financing by declaring details would be announced in a “couple of weeks”. Four months later, he has now been forced to admit the group still has no funding in place, blaming the problem on the tough financial landscape.
“Telstra is ready to build a world-class, high-speed National Broadband Network,” Mr Quilty said. “Let’s get on with the job. Every day we delay in the current environment adds unnecessary costs and foregone benefits to the Australian economy. It is time for the great pretender to show us the money or get out of the way.”
“If they don’t have their finances secured, then why are we delaying the build for a moment longer? Australia’s biggest infrastructure project is being held up by a ramshackle outfit that has never actually wanted to build National Broadband Network.”
