Bracks said the ISP's decision to locate in Melbourne would create at least 100 new information technology and communications (ITC) jobs, and increase the speed with which broadband infrastructure would be rolled out within the state. The Primier also announced plans to roll out high speed optical fibre connections to regional centres such as Bendigo and Ballarat, by running them along side the planned high speed train link.
Flying in from Singapore for the event, Pacific Internet's CEO Tan Tong Hai thanked the state government for its support, and pointed out it was a key factor in the decision to locate in Melbourne.
The office opening comes in at a time of increased competition between the states, as each vies for a larger chunk of the IT investment pie. The Victorian Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, told ZDNet Australia that while there was an agreement between NSW and Victoria regarding domestic IT investment, new international investment in IT is hotly contested between the states.
"There is no question that the states compete rigourously in terms of attracting IT investment, and we believe the modest contribution we made to enable Pacific Internet to locate in Melbourne was worthwhile," Brumby said.
Both the Premier and Brumby indicated the roll out of broad band infrastructure would be a key pilar in their overall strategy to make Victoria a regional leader in the ITC sector.
While Brumby said a lack of competition was the key factor holding back the roll out of broadband services in Australia, he said that it was an issue which had to be delt with at a Federal Government level.
"We are doing what we can in terms of assisting in the roll out of new infrastructure, and we will continue to announce new initiaves to this effect," Brumby said. "When it comes to competition in the wholesale broadband sector it is up to the Federal Government to act."
NSW is once again sleeping on the sheeps back.