The federal government says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is toying with Australia's economic future by threatening to dump the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN).
A coalition government intends to cut spending by $10 billion during its first term in office to reduce national debt, with the NBN potentially one of the first programs to go.
"I won't specify yet what might be targeted, but if you want to cut spending, look at the NBN," Mr Abbott told News Ltd.
"Not proceeding with it could save billions of dollars." Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said Mr Abbott risked Australia's economic future.
"The NBN is crucial economic infrastructure," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
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"Without it, Australian companies will not be able compete with the likes of Japan, Korea or Singapore."
Scrapping the network would also threaten the 25,000 jobs expected to be supported each year of its rollout, Senator Conroy said.
He attacked the coalition for having had 18 failed broadband plans in 11 years, and still no alternative broadband plan for Australia.
The government was getting on with the business of creating high-speed broadband access for Australians, with Tasmania the first to go online in July.
