NBN unlikely to arrive by 2015 pledge — Turnbull

The Federal Government’s National Broadband Network came under fire this week when Liberal heavyweight Malcolm Turnbull dropped into Bunbury to spruik the Opposition’s plans for high-speed broadband.

The former Federal Opposition Leader attacked NBN Co as ‘‘too costly, too slow’’ and ‘‘unlikely to arrive any time soon’’.

Earlier this year it was announced the South West’s towns would be connected to — or be in the process of being connected to — game-changing superfast broadband by 2015.

Binningup, Brunswick Junction, Bunbury, Capel, Collie, Donnybrook and Harvey were among the areas included in the three-year rollout program announced by NBN Co in March.

Mr Turnbull spoke at a number of events during his two-day visit as a guest of Forrest MHR Nola Marino, explaining the Liberals’ alternative approach to the NBN and scoffing at Labor’s 2015 time frame.

‘‘What is going to happen by June 2015?’’ he said.

‘‘We are not going to be connected by 2015 — they are so far behind schedule, the last figures we had showed that after two years the NBN had connected less than 5000 premises to the fibre network.

‘‘The pace of this would put a snail to shame.’’

The Liberals plan to create a broadband network using a mix of optical fibre, wireless, DSL and satellite technologies and use existing copper cables instead of installing new fibre optic cables to every premises.

Mr Turnbull said the Ferguson Valley, a phone reception black spot, would be a perfect ‘‘test case’’ for the Liberals’ plans.

The Government fired back, saying Mr Turnbull should stop hiding the details of his broadband plans.

Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Conroy called on Mr Turnbull to justify his claims his plans would be cheaper and more efficient.

‘‘Australians have a right to know what Mr Turnbull is planning for broadband in our country,’’ Mr Conroy said.

‘‘After 1093 tweets, 31 media releases and 14 public speeches in 2012, Mr Turnbull has not provided any detail on his policy or answers to any of the questions that are being asked of him.’’