Labor Leader Kevin Rudd Responds to my Email

On the 22^nd of March after the announcement of the Australian broadband plan by the Australian Labor part I sent Kevin Rudd an email stating that this is the one policy that could get me to convert from a liberal voter to a labour one.

From: Matthew Burrows [mailto:burrows749@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 22 March 2007 8:07 PM
To: Rudd, Kevin (MP)
Subject: Broadband deal

Kevin

I am a long time liberal voter who has never in the past considered voting Labor, however I am very close to reconsidering this because of the promise to run fibre through the last mile. As a IT worker who often works from home the major lack of infrastructure and current farcical pricing structure has been a huge hindrance. I daily work with people from other parts of the world who have 100mb connections into the house which offers up a large amount of new possibilities for how to use the internet that are not possible with the current 1.5mb connections that for many Australians is the max that they can get. Seeing the Liberals object to this plan has cast serious doubt in my mind as to their long term viability, how can they lack the foresight that this is the only way forward for Australia. I look forward to reading the fine print on this plan as it is the one issue that will change my vote.

Regards

Matthew Burrows

Since over 1 month had passed since I sent the email I assumed that it didn’t go through however I just received this response.

From: Wilkins, Patti (K. Rudd, MP) [mailto:Patti.Wilkins@aph.gov.au] On Behalf Of Rudd, Kevin (MP)
Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2007 3:46 PM
To: Matthew Burrows
Subject: RE: Broadband deal

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for your letter regarding your inability to access reasonable broadband services.

Labor is very concerned about the poor access to broadband faced by many Australians in suburban and regional Australia.

In the 21^st century, Australia needs universal, equitable and affordable broadband access.

That's why Australia needs Labor's National Broadband Network.

Labor will invest up to $4.7 billion to establish the National Broadband Network in partnership with the private sector. The National Broadband Network will connect 98 per cent of Australians to high speed broadband internet services – at a speed more than 40 times faster than most current speeds. The remaining two per cent of Australians in regional and remote areas not covered by this network will have improved broadband services.

New services and benefits of the National Broadband Network – particularly in rural and regional areas – include:

· Slashed telephone bills for small business;

· Enhanced business services such as teleconferencing, video conferencing and virtual private networks;

· Enhanced capacity for services like e-education and e-health; and

· High definition, multi-channel and inter-active TV services.

Labor's Plan for a National Broadband Network shows the Labor Party's vision for Australia. It delivers the future to all Australians – today.

Thank you for you correspondence and please contact me with any queries you may have. You can find out further information on Labor’s plan for a National Broadband Network online at:

http://eherald.alp.org.au/download/labors_broadband_future_for_australia.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Rudd

Federal Labor Leader

Member for Griffith

Kevin I would like to thank you for your response I will carefully review it and post my comments of it on my blog.