The Federal Coalition hopes the satellite solution for better television access in the bush doesn’t end up as yet more Labor pie in the sky.

Whilst people in rural and regional Australia will welcome Senator Conroy’s announcement, they should hold their champagne corks until they see the actual evidence and delivery.

They should believe it when they see it – literally see it on their TV screens.

Senator Conroy has promised that no one will be worse off under this new scheme. Unfortunately, the Rudd Government has perfected the art of making broad, sweeping policy announcements and spectacularly failing to deliver on them.

Rural and regional Australians deserve to have certainty in what television access they will have before the analogue service is switched off.

There is not a major policy that this Government has implemented that hasn’t been delayed, abandoned or had a cost-blowout.

While it’s possible that this could be the first Rudd Government policy announcement that is actually implemented on time, in full, without delay or chaos and on budget, few in rural and regional Australia would bet on it.