Never before in my recollection has the future of telecommunications been a major differentiator in a general election. Yet this year the National Party raised the bar by choosing it as the first policy off the rank. As far back as April 22 they announced their commitment of $1.5 billion of taxpayer money to drive the roll-out of a “fibre to the home ultra-fast broadband network”.
Microsoft's developer conference, Tech Ed, has kicked off in Auckland, with opposition leader John Key dropping further hints of the shape of National's broadband network plans.
Some have unkindly suggested the NZ Computer Society gave David Cunliffe a retirement present last week, appointing the ICT Minister an honorary fellow of the society at a time when the Labour party and the government it leads are sliding in the polls.
The government’s lead health IT strategy group, the Health Information Strategy Committee (HISAC), is under review and may face the chop.
ICT Minister David Cunliffe has attempted to turn an adverse Treasury report on broadband to the government’s political advantage.