Senator Stephen Conroy to see Australia into new digital era

Prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd has chosen Senator Stephen Conroy, to enter cabinet as Minister for Communications, Broadband and the Digital Economy.

Conroy, Labor’s former Shadow Minister for Communications is widely known for his outspoken opinions against former Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan.

In his career with the Labor party, Conroy was appointed as a Senator for Victoria in the upper house of the Australian Parliament in 1996.

Previously Conroy was an industrial officer and superannuation officer for the Transport Workers Union Victorian Branch from 1992 to 1996. He was also a ministerial adviser to the State Minister for Industry from 1990 to 1992 and an assistant adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1990.

From 1986 to 1987, Stephen was an electorate officer for the Federal Member for Canberra, consultant to the Minister for Science and Minister assisting the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce and electorate officer for the Minister for Home Affairs. He also worked for the Metal Trades Industry Association from 1984 to 1986.

In the last stoush between Conroy and Coonan, on the 11 November, the newly appointed minister hit out at the former Liberal Government's $1 billion fixed wireless broadband network scheme, claiming it offers 50 percent less coverage than promised.

“These disclaimers were not included when various Government MPs mailed out the maps of their electorates to constituents, fraudulently misleading Australians,’ Conroy said. “The Howard Government assumed the earth was flat in the broadband coverage maps they released on June 18. They ignored critical issues, including the fact that wireless broadband does not transmit through hills and mountains.

At the time Conroy said, in contrast, Labor’s maps take into account that the Government’s wireless broadband requires line of sight transmission. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter