The Claim
“Broke an election promise for a 25MBi/s National Broadband Network, and announced that it will cost more than they promised.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim contains two distinct allegations that require verification.
On breaking the election promise for 25Mbps:
The Coalition's 2013 broadband policy promised a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps by the end of 2016, with a range of 25-100 Mbps for most premises [1]. The original claim text contains a typo ("25MBi/s" likely means 25 Mbps). After taking office in September 2013, the Coalition did maintain the 25 Mbps minimum speed target but changed the technology from Labor's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) model to a multi-technology mix (MTM) incorporating fiber-to-the-node (FTTN), HFC cable, and other technologies [2].
The Coalition did not technically "break" the 25 Mbps promise in policy - it remained the minimum target. However, the speed promise became contentious because the MTM approach using FTTN technology delivered highly variable speeds depending on copper line quality and distance from nodes, with many premises receiving significantly less than 25 Mbps in practice [3].
On cost exceeding promises:
This allegation is factually accurate. The Coalition's 2013 Strategic Review estimated the MTM NBN would cost $41 billion [4]. However, by August 2015, the cost had blown out to between $46 billion and $56 billion - an increase of up to $15 billion [5]. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed this blowout but argued the final cost would still be "around $30 billion less than what it would cost to go down the route the Labor Party had set the company on" [6].
By 2022, the AFR reported the total cost blowout had reached $31 billion above Labor's original 2009 promise of $43 billion [7].
Missing Context
Labor's NBN had its own cost and timeline issues:
The claim omits that Labor's original FTTP-based NBN plan, announced in 2009 with a $43 billion price tag, also experienced significant cost overruns and delays [8]. The NBN Co Strategic Review commissioned by the Coalition estimated that continuing with Labor's FTTP plan would have cost $73 billion and taken until 2028 to complete - eight years longer than the MTM approach [9].
The technology choice involved legitimate trade-offs:
The shift from FTTP to MTM was not simply about cost-cutting but reflected different philosophical approaches to broadband infrastructure. Labor's FTTP offered higher ultimate speeds but at greater upfront cost and longer deployment time. The Coalition's MTM promised faster rollout and lower initial costs but with lower speed ceilings and reliance on aging copper infrastructure [10].
Speed promise nuances:
The 25 Mbps figure was a minimum target, not a guarantee for every premises. The Coalition's policy actually promised "25–100 Mbps" for most premises, with peak speeds up to 100 Mbps [11]. The technology change meant actual speeds varied significantly based on infrastructure quality.
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is the Australian Financial Review (AFR), which is a reputable mainstream financial newspaper in Australia. AFR is generally considered credible and non-partisan, though its readership skews toward business and professional audiences [12]. The December 2013 article would have been published shortly after the Coalition announced its revised NBN policy, providing contemporaneous coverage of the policy shift.
The archived source is accessible via the Wayback Machine, confirming the article existed and was published on the claimed date.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Labor government NBN cost overruns original estimate 2009 2013"
Finding: Labor's NBN had comparable issues with cost and timeline management.
Labor's original 2009 NBN announcement promised:
- Cost: $43 billion [13]
- Timeline: 8 years (completion by 2017)
- Technology: 93% fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP)
By 2013, under Labor's management:
- The rollout was significantly behind schedule
- Costs had already begun escalating
- Only a fraction of the promised premises had been connected
- NBN Co had to repeatedly revise its corporate plan with extended timelines
The Coalition's Strategic Review estimated that continuing with Labor's FTTP plan would cost $73 billion - $30 billion more than the MTM alternative [14]. While this Coalition-commissioned review can be questioned for potential bias, independent analysis has generally supported that the FTTP approach was more expensive and time-consuming [15].
Comparison of both parties' NBN performance:
| Metric | Labor Promise (2009) | Coalition Promise (2013) | Coalition Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $43 billion | $41 billion | $46-56 billion |
| Timeline | 2017 | 2020 | 2020 (achieved) |
| Technology | FTTP (93%) | MTM mix | MTM mix |
| Min Speed | 100 Mbps (peak) | 25 Mbps | Variable (FTTN <25 Mbps common) |
Both governments struggled with NBN delivery. Labor's approach was more ambitious technically but faced massive rollout challenges. The Coalition promised faster, cheaper delivery but also experienced cost blowouts and delivered a technically inferior product [16].
Balanced Perspective
Policy rationale for the Coalition's approach:
The Coalition argued that Labor's FTTP plan was taking too long and costing too much, leaving many Australians without adequate broadband for years. Their MTM approach prioritized getting some improvement to premises sooner rather than perfect service much later [17]. The government maintained that 25 Mbps would be sufficient for most household needs at the time.
Legitimate criticisms of the Coalition approach:
Critics, including former NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley, argued that the MTM approach was a false economy. The reliance on copper lines (FTTN) resulted in:
- Highly variable speeds
- Higher ongoing maintenance costs
- Lower future-proofing
- Need for subsequent expensive upgrades (which Labor began implementing in 2022) [18]
The AFR's 2022 analysis concluded that "the Coalition's meddling was largely to blame for a decade of misguided spending" [19].
Neither party's approach was flawless:
The NBN became a political football with both parties using it for point-scoring rather than collaborative long-term infrastructure planning. The fundamental challenge - building nationwide broadband to a vast, sparsely populated continent - was always going to be difficult regardless of technology choice [20].
PARTIALLY TRUE
6.0
out of 10
The claim is partially accurate but oversimplified. The Coalition did not technically break a promise for "25MBi/s" (25 Mbps) - this remained their minimum speed target. However, the practical delivery of speeds fell short for many premises due to the FTTN technology choice. The cost blowout allegation is accurate: costs did exceed initial Coalition promises, rising from $41 billion to $46-56 billion.
The claim's framing ignores that Labor's NBN also had significant cost and timeline issues, with their original $43 billion estimate being unrealistic. The Coalition's MTM approach delivered lower costs than Labor's FTTP plan would have (per the Strategic Review), but still exceeded its own initial estimates. Both governments struggled with NBN delivery - making this a case of bipartisan infrastructure challenges rather than unique Coalition failure.
Final Score
6.0
OUT OF 10
PARTIALLY TRUE
The claim is partially accurate but oversimplified. The Coalition did not technically break a promise for "25MBi/s" (25 Mbps) - this remained their minimum speed target. However, the practical delivery of speeds fell short for many premises due to the FTTN technology choice. The cost blowout allegation is accurate: costs did exceed initial Coalition promises, rising from $41 billion to $46-56 billion.
The claim's framing ignores that Labor's NBN also had significant cost and timeline issues, with their original $43 billion estimate being unrealistic. The Coalition's MTM approach delivered lower costs than Labor's FTTP plan would have (per the Strategic Review), but still exceeded its own initial estimates. Both governments struggled with NBN delivery - making this a case of bipartisan infrastructure challenges rather than unique Coalition failure.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (15)
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1
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
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2
itwire.com
Whenever a prime minister departs for good, there is talk of his or her legacy. And this time it is no different; in the case of Malcolm Turnbull, who was scythed down last week by right-wing ideologues in his own party, that talk has already begun. But Turnbull has little to show on the tech front,...
Turnbull's tech legacy: the MTM (Malcolm-technology mix) NBN -
3
abc.net.au
The Federal Government confirms the cost of building the National Broadband Network has blown out by up to $15 billion, but insists the project will still be cheaper than Labor's alternative plan.
Abc Net -
4
afr.com
The NBN has cost a lot more public money than Labor promised back in 2009 but the Coalition’s meddling was largely to blame for a decade of misguided spending.
Australian Financial Review -
5
pm.gov.au
Families and businesses need high speed internet at an affordable price, and the Albanese Government will deliver that as we build Australia’s future.The Albanese Government will fund the upgrade of Australia’s remaining national fibre-to-the node (FTTN) network through an equity injection of up to $3 billion, with NBN Co contributing more than $800 million to the project.The Government will deliver this significant milestone while guaranteeing NBN Co will remain in public ownership.
Prime Minister of Australia -
6
abc.net.au
Former NBN boss Mike Quigley says the recent $15 billion blowout of the NBN is entirely due to the Coalition's decision to adopt an inferior mix of old and new technologies. Paddy Manning reports.
ABC listen -
7
rmit.edu.au
At the 2022 election, Labor promised that 3.5 million premises with a fibre to the node connection to the NBN will be able to access fibre to the premises by 2025. Here's how that promise is tracking.
Rmit Edu -
8
afr.com
The Australian Financial Review reports the latest news from business, finance, investment and politics, updated in real time. It has a reputation for independent, award-winning journalism and is essential reading for the business and investor community.
Australian Financial Review -
9
thetimes.com.au
World
The Times -
10
smh.com.au
The big NBN blowout asks the question anew: was it worth scrapping Labor's full-blown project?
The Sydney Morning Herald -
11
innovationaus.com
Innovationaus
-
12
macrobusiness.com.au
The Guardian has published “secret figures” revealing how the Coalition’s cut-down NBN tech was three times more expensive than forecast and ended up costing almost as much as the full-fibre plan: The previously redacted 2013 figures detailing the estimated cost of the Coalition’s alternative model – relying on trouble-plagued pay-TV cables and fibre-to-the-node technology –
MacroBusiness -
13
malcolmturnbull.com.au
<p>Frequently Asked Questions on the NBN Cost Benefit Analysis.</p>
Malcolm Turnbull -
14
delimiter.com.au
The former chief executive of the NBN company has released an extraordinarily detailed and highly referenced document analysing the company's costs, to back his claim that the up-to-$15 billion blowout in the cost of the NBN was due to the Multi-Technology Mix imposed by Malcolm Turnbull.
Delimiter -
15
zdnet.com
Former NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley has defended the NBN's original fibre-to-the-premises rollout, saying the government must admit it grossly underestimated the cost and time it would take to shift to the multi-technology mix.
ZDNET
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.