from the ABC …..

Costello continues attack on Labor's broadband plan

Federal Treasurer Peter Costello is continuing his attack on the Opposition's $4.7 billion high-speed Internet plan.

Labor wants to use money from the sale of Telstra shares held in the Future Fund to help deliver 40 times faster broadband to 98 per cent of Australians.

But Mr Costello says high-speed broadband can be funded by the private sector.

"Kevin Rudd says here's this big honey pot, I want to get elected, let me raid this honey pot and let me put this out there as a way of getting votes," he said.

"He can raid the honey pot today, but let me tell you in 10,15 and 20 years time when Australia faces its greatest economic challenge, the ageing of the population, because this bear has raided the honey pot, Australia will not be in a position to meet that great challenge."

Meanwhile, Optus says the Opposition's plan to deliver high-speed broadband represents a milestone on the path to improved telecommunications services to Australians.