Senator Eric Abetz

In December 1999, the Bicheno community gathered together to mark the opening of the community’s Online Access Centre. This weekend Senator Eric Abetz will be back in Bicheno to celebrate almost 12 years since the Centre opened.

“Twelve years ago, well almost, I had the great pleasure of opening the Online Access Centre at Bicheno; it seems just like yesterday but I know in all that time a lot has gone on at the Centre and its been the great success I knew it would be,” Senator Abetz said today.

“The Online Access Centre program which was rolled out across Tasmania was a fantastic initiative of the Howard Government and has given thousands of Tasmanians and visitors to our great State an opportunity to access vital information that would otherwise not be available to them.”

“The efforts of Senator Brian Harradine in obtaining the funding for the Online Access Centre program should not be forgotten,” Senator Abetz said.

“It is rewarding to see the longevity of this investment and the benefits it has provided to the Bicheno community – social, educational and economic.”

“The Online Access Centre at Bicheno provides a window to the World for the local community,” Senator Abetz said.

“There are now more than 60 Online Access Centres in Tasmania providing local communities with access to computer courses, education services, employment data and vital Government services.”

“The Online Access Centre at Bicheno, like all of the Centres across Tasmania, is run by dedicated staff and volunteers and it’s these people who have made the project such a great success.”

“I am thrilled to be invited back to Bicheno to celebrate this fantastic success story and join with everyone from the Bicheno community in wishing all those involved in this project over the last 12 years my sincere congratulations for a job well done,” Senator Abetz said.