High speed Broadbands waiting!

Stephen Conroy speaking during the announcement at Midway

Point in Tasmania last week.

Communication Minister Stephen Conroy revealed the Government's $43 billion network would offer speeds of one gigabit per second.

Senator Conroy said he had only been informed of the new turbo-charged capasity by NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley yesterday.

Not to mention, the timing was profitable for Ms Gillard, who used the plan to further mock the Opposition's $6 billion broadband proposal unveiled early last week.

The Coalition's plan said would give speeds of 12 megabits per sec using a patchwork of different technologies and stimulus funds.

The Opposition Leader Tony Abbott however hit back immediately, questioning together the timing of the plan and its plausibility.

"it is very hard to believe the idea of making wonders just because it's under enormous pressure in the closing stages of the election campaign," he said

Ms Gillard and Senator Conroy are campaigning in Tasmania where the communities of Midway Point, Scottsdale and smithton are the first to experience the fibre-optic network

"If we say that what we've got now is acceptable enough, we are actually condemning Australia to that kind of frozen-in-time attitude," said Ms Gillard

Without super-fast broadband Australian businesses would be at a competitive disadvantage compared with other countries, she continued.

Tony Smith the Shadow communications minister however said he made no apology for deciding not to spend big on broadband.

"we're not running fibre down every street at the taxpayer's expense, whether people want it or not." he said