The company building the National Broadband Network says claims by the New South Wales Government that the NBN rollout would lead to a rise in electricity prices are incorrect.

“Putting fibre cables on power poles in NSW brings in more money for the state, not less,” says NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley.

“Where we have an issue is that whereas we’ve negotiated fair and reasonable terms with other utilities in other states, the NSW Government wants to charge us far in excess of anybody else.

“That’s unfair to taxpayers.

“Sharing infrastructure is meant to save taxpayers money. It avoids us having to build more of it. It allows us to roll out the NBN more quickly. And it lessens disruption to communities.

“We’re delighted that the NSW Finance Minister has said ‘the State Government supports the rollout of high speed broadband across NSW’.

“Using the powers in the Telecommunications Act will allow us to get on with the job of doing exactly that.

“And NSW will not be left short-changed. If we cause financial loss or damage to a utility’s property then under the Act we’re obliged to provide them with a reasonable amount of compensation.”