CONSTRUCTION of a fixed line network in Port Douglas as part of the NBN rollout, is expected to kick off in the first half of next year, according to Warren Entsch, the Federal Member for Leichhardt.

In his Spring newsletter, Entsch said he received an updated briefing from NBNCo on the services that people in the region can access.

“NBN’s Sky Muster satellite was switched on earlier this year and Queensland’s NBN Sky Muster satellite truck has been touring regional Queensland showcasing what the service can provide,” he said.

An NBN Sky Muster service is designed to deliver wholesale speeds of up to 25Mbps download/5Mbps upload – a huge step change for many regional areas currently experiencing very limited access to fast, reliable broadband.

“Internet service providers provide retail plans at different price points and data allowances, so eligible residents and businesses can choose a plan that best suits their needs.

“The NBN also continues to roll out the fixed line network across Leichhardt. With construction well underway across the Cairns region and Cooktown, Mossman and Port Douglas are also due to kick off construction in the first half of next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, there have been some important developments in Medicinal Cannabis over the last few months.

“In February we passed the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016 to allow states and territories to cultivate and produce medicinal cannabis products.

“In October a number of Regulations will come into effect allowing people to apply for licences and permits to grow,” said Entsch.

Access to medicinal cannabis will, at this stage, be limited to paediatric epilepsy, palliative care end of life, and nausea associated with cancer treatment.

Other cases will be considered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on a case-by-case basis. Importantly, patients will need to visit a doctor or clinician who is an authorised prescriber, or be part of a clinical trial to access the treatment.