Media release
Federal leader of the Palmer United Party and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, said enhancing Australia’s connectivity to the online world was one his major policy platforms prior to the 2013 federal election.
Mr Palmer said his platform to bring Australia’s sixth undersea communications cable to the Sunshine Coast was opposed by the Liberal Party at the time.
“The Sunshine Coast Council’s proposal to bring the sixth undersea cable to the region makes sense from both security and connectivity perspectives,” Mr Palmer said.
“All political parties need to put aside their differences and unite to support this proposal.
“A cable into the Sunshine Coast would put the region at the forefront of internet access and provide Queensland with its own cable rather than relying on the connections to Sydney, which have been disrupted on numerous occasions.”
Mr Palmer said Queensland, and particularly the Sunshine Coast, now has an opportunity to become the next Silicon Valley if this proposal is introduced, as it will build on the existing education and university programs in the region.
“A cable into the Sunshine Coast will encourage new investment in technology-based enterprises as well as encourage global companies to make south-east Queensland their base in Australia,” he said.
“This proposal will also add value to the Maroochydore City Centre project and enhance the capabilities of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
“It also renews the need for the federal government to look at increasing funding for the Sunshine Coast airport upgrade; with the infrastructure project not only offering thousands of jobs in the short term but also leading to sustainable employment opportunities in the tourism sector well into the future.”
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