A couple of week’s ago I attended a seminar in Wellington on broadband which received quite a lot of publicity because the Australasian telco analyst running it, Paul Budde, came out swinging against the government’s $1.5 billion broadband scheme.
He criticised Steven Joyce’s broadband scheme for being over-bureaucratic, the lack of business model for investors, the uncertainty about Telecom’s role, inequity between rural and urban New Zealand and for not paying enough attnetion to what broadband could be used for.
In other words, how government should invest in a trans-sector approach particularly in education, health and energy to drive demand for people to want and need ultrafast broadband for more than just downloading movies faster. A social benefit, which could also save considerable amounts of money if these portfolio areas.
The trans-sector approach is starting to happen in Australia driven from the top by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. I’m going to post more about this shortly becasue there’s some really interesting and exciting stuff happening, in Australia, not here.
In New Zealand, as I understand it, the trans-sector approach is a bit of a myth. Or rather lip service is being paid to it. There is some work happening in education. But actually what it is and who’s driving it is a bit of a mystery. The government wants us to think they are delivering great things in broadband by announcing and re-announcing funding for school information and communications technology network upgrades.
This is good. But it’s about functionality, not content. As Paul Budde has pointed out if you aren’t driving the content, then what will broadband deliver?
You would think that if education content was important, then Anne Tolley would know what’s going on. I don’t think she does. Here’s what I asked her in the House last week in response to a primary patsy question by Jo Goodhew.
It’s a good read, even Trevor’s spurious point of order about the Queen.
Needless to say, I’ve submitted a bunch of written questions. It would be good if they just fronted up with a bit of information. But it seems there’s not much going on.11. JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata) to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has the Government made to get schools ready for ultra-fast broadband?
Clare Curran: What discussions has she had with the Minister for Communications and Information Technology on the broader policy framework being proposed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economic Development to make use of the ultra-fast broadband roll-out, and how much will it cost?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The Minister and I have had many discussions about the use of this network.
Clare Curran: Is the Ministry of Education involved in the Ministry of Economic Development – led trans-sector committee on broadband; if so, what work is the Ministry of Education doing as part of that committee?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes, we are working together.
Clare Curran: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: There will be a little order in the House. A point of order was called by the Labour member who asked the question. I expect a little courtesy to be shown to her.
Clare Curran: My question was quite specific. It asked the Minister what work is being done as part of this committee, and the Minister replied with a yes answer.
Mr SPEAKER: As I recollect the member’s question, she asked not just a general question about what work was being done but whether something was taking place between two parties—whether a certain a certain party was being involved in the work. As I recollect the Minister’s answer, she confirmed that yes, that party was being involved in the work. I believe that is a perfectly fair answer to the question asked.
Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It relates to the first part of the Minister’s response to that supplementary question, where you said that she indicated yes, they were involved. She said “we” are involved when she was asked a specific question about her ministry. She is not the Queen.
Mr SPEAKER: I think that is nitpicking. If it transpires that the Minister was using a device like that to actually give incorrect information, I am sure that honourable members will follow that up with further questions in the future. My interpretation of the Minister’s answer was that she was confirming what the member had asked.
As deadwood keeps saying ask the proper question in a proper way and you will,should,maybe,get a proper answer.And it is a bit much to expect tolley to actually know what’s happening.