Media release - Labor's on-going farcical management of the NBN

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney
Federal Member for Lindsay

13 March 2025

Labor’s on-going farcical management of the NBN

In a desperate attempt at covering over the disastrous coverage of the NBN today by The Australian, the Australian Financial Review and CommsDay, the Communications Minister has issued a late afternoon media release asserting untruths.

The Coalition has no plans to privatise the NBN. The Coalition invested in the NBN in government and supports the $3 billion investment to upgrade access for more Australian households.  

It is fair to state that this government has presided over woeful performance rates for the NBN. We have seen a blow out of losses, including a net cashflow of -$1.4 billion last financial year which was $300 million worse than the previous -$1.1 billion figure in the previous year.

The Albanese Labor Government is worsening its track record of delivery failure. Splashed across the front page of The Australian today laid bare the ineffective leadership within the government to steer the NBN to a path of success.

Despite a rising population and increased need for digital connectivity, the NBN’s customer base is declining. The NBN should be thriving in such a climate and if the basics were done adequately people would not be walking away from the NBN.

The NBN is losing money hand over fist and in the last two financial years has declared $2.5 billion in losses. It is on track to lose similar amounts this year. The Albanese Labor Government needs to make sure the NBN meets its statement of expectations to be commercially sustainable and operate efficiently. We need to ensure this government business enterprise is a commercial entity operated by the government for the benefit of all Australians.

This Labor government, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, has watched over families forced into up to a 14 per cent increase for the NBN, with two price hikes in a period of just eight months. 

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh said, “the Albanese Labor Government should be focused on fixing the NBN, ensuring it is a viable and well-run government business enterprise, rather than making baseless claims to the media to cover over their failures.”

“Labor is desperate for fake and attention seeking headlines as they limp to the polls sometime in the next two months,” said Mrs McIntosh.

“Instead of revamping its privatisation war the government should have put its time into making sure the NBN does what it needs to for its customers – provide affordable and reliable internet connections for all Australians.

“The Communications portfolio is in crisis with no position from Labor on banning gambling ads during sport, being too late to act on underage social media use, botched closure of the 3G network, not being able to pass its misinformation and disinformation bills and no position on post and boast to prevent criminals posting illicit acts for notoriety online.”