By Christopher Russell From: The Daily Telegraph December 24, 2009 12:00AM

NEW homes and commercial developments will have to be fitted with fibre-optic cable connections under draft legislation published by the Federal Government yesterday.

The legislation applies to all types of new developments, including greenfield (broadacre) estates, urban infill and urban renewal projects from July next year.

The new powers aim to complement the national broadband network.

“It is counter-productive to have our newest homes and businesses connected with old technology, particularly when it will cost more to retrofit them later,” Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.

“The Government’s greenfields policy builds on the growing trend in the development industry to have fibre-to-the-premises installed.”

The minister would be given the power to decide which types of development would be covered by the legislation. Exceptions would be granted if there was no intention of connecting the premises to a public network.

The Commonwealth said it expected State planning requirements would change to complement the federal law.

Property Council (SA) executive director Nathan Paine said his organisation had been working with the government on the issue and would be consulting members about the “highly complex” legislation.

“The question that remains is one of brass tacks,” he said.

“What components of the program will the housing industry be responsible for, and at what cost?

“Where does the developers’ role end and that of the telecommunications provider or the government begin?”

More certainty needed to be provided and issues of affordability and equity had to be addressed, he said.

The draft legislation has been released for comment with the intention it will introduced to parliament early next year.