Thanks for kicking the discussion off. Nothing lost by having a second look at it.
Any time is the right time history considered.
The right time was more recently when the NBN first said we should not rely on the NBN phone service and always keep a ready charged mobile handy.
The right time was also more than a decade prior in respect of the NBN, as @grahroll is pointing out in response to one of my questions.
The right time was when Cyclone Marcia, or Yasi, or Larry, or … or Tracy or … hit destroying hundreds or thousands of homes, taking lives and destroying all power, communications and blocking emergency access.
Australia has a long history of national disasters, politicians overflying in helicopters, and local communities picking up the pieces and rebuilding. Communities have been cut off without food, water, power or phones. The magnitude of the current fire emergencies may be unexpected for many. The outcomes with losses of life, property and livelihoods are far from first time events in the recent history of Australia.
The right solution, if Canberra can finally come to deliver change needs to treat all of regions and rural areas of Australia equally, something the NBN does not.
P.S.
If I had a choice a I’d rather have an expanded better mobile service than the the NBN as the primary emergency service for communications. The NBN or copper phone line is of little value if your home is 3m underwater and you are on the roof, or your house is on fire or has been flattened in a cyclone? A mobile is also your only chance if you are not in the home. Both for calling in as well as receiving emergency updates.
@grahroll has some alternate comments on some of the issues concerning this option. What seems best may depend on what scenario is being considered. After decades of living up north, I expect in an emergency event to have nothing to fall back on. Total isolation worse case. Perhaps a symptom of previous Government indifference.
If however all rural and regional consumers get full fat fibre to the premises as an emergency service solution, I’ll not complain. Providing it comes at no extra cost compared to the same service in postcode 2000!