INCUMBENT Nationals MP Mark Coulton and Labor's candidate Brendan Byron have butted heads in the battle over the best internet plans for Parkes voters.
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Mr Coulton accused Mr Byron of "misleading" Dubbo residents over his comments that the fast National Broadband Network (NBN) service was at risk if the Coalition won government while Mr Byron said the facts spoke for themselves.
"Mr Byron's claims are preposterous in light of NBN Co.'s widely acknowledged failure to complete work within designated rollout times, and to stay under budget," Mr Coulton said.
"Let me be very clear - there will be no removal of the NBN - this is Labor peddling their scare campaign."
Mr Byron said the choice was clear to voters on September 7.
"The Coalition's system is inferior to the one Labor has planned and it will not reach the regions we want," he said.
"Theirs is based on copper from the 19th century not fibre of the 21st century."
The federal Coalition is strongly opposed to the NBN in its current form, a prime Labor government project. It has stated it will introduce an alternative if elected.
However, Mr Coulton said Dubbo would not have split internet connections.
"No fibre will be torn up - that is just ludicrous. Existing contracts will be honoured under a Coalition government," he said.
"The Coalition has a clear plan to roll out a national broadband network, the policy detail was released in April.
"It is very unfortunate that Mr Byron has made these misleading comments in an attempt to scare the people of Dubbo."
Mr Byron said if he was elected he would ensure the NBN would reach every community in Parkes and had fair and equal access to affordable high-speed broadband.
"By the end of 2015, everyone in the most rural and remote parts of the country not in the fibre footprint will be covered by either the NBN's new, dedicated satellite or fixed wireless systems - guaranteeing access to speeds that are faster than anyone in metro areas can get today over copper ADSL broadband," he said.
NBN Co said almost 90 per cent of the work was done in the lead-up to the physical fibre hauling and connection of the fibre network.
A spokeswoman said the company was in the detailed design process and had Telstra remediation as a last step.
"The same time next year the fibre should be connected and ready to go," the spokeswoman said.
The roll out of the NBN started in March. Areas of South Dubbo were earmarked to be the city's first recipients of the internet system.
One housing estate is already hooked up. Surrounding areas in Dubbo are already connected to the fixed wireless internet.