Premier Nathan Rees has revealed a bid team of distinguished experts to lead Sydneys campaign to win the Headquarters for the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN).

The Premier also declared a call to arms to NSW business to support the bid during an address to the Sydney Chamber of Commerce.

It's time to confirm Sydney as the logical choice for the National Broadband project, said Mr Rees.

Sydneys track record of delivering big projects is a clear advantage over other cities wedelivered the Olympics not the Commonwealth Games.

Our bid against strong contenders including Brisbane and Melbourne needs a relentless andunited front from business and government to get us over the line.

NSWs business community must mobilise to tell the federal government Sydney is the obvious choice."

Mr Rees said the NSW Governments broadband taskforce helped shaped the NSW submission to the Commonwealth and the Government is now putting in place a range of measures to help us succeed.

Three possible central locations to establish the headquarters have been identified and the Government will use its planning powers to secure the roll-out of the network.

Two eminent Australians will lead the campaign as a special NSW bid team - (Patricia Forsythe (Executive Director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce) and Professor Mary OKane (NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer)," Mr Rees said.

The teams collective expertise commands respect because of their standing in NSWs business community, higher education and science sectors.

The team will assist in negotiations and pitch to the Board of the NBN when it is appointed.

We will be in good hands, however, we need every single business leader in NSW to apply their influence to secure this investment in our great State."

Mr Rees outlined some of the key arguments of the Sydney bid:

• ABS stats confirm 43% of Telco research and development happens in NSW (in2006/2007);
• NSW is home to the largest pool of skilled ICT professionals;
• NSW spends $651 million on broadband industries - 41% of Australias total spend;
• Eight international high capacity optic fibre landings from seven cables link Australia to theworld in Sydney;
• Sydney has twice the data centre capacity of other cities;
• Sydney is the home to Australias major Telco carriers, service providers and equipmentsuppliers as well as the research and financial sectors, multinationals and the largest publicand private customer base in the country; and
• NSWs commitment to create test beds to pilot next generation services including smartapplications for metering, education, health and entertainment.

Patricia Forsythe, Executive Director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce and bid teammember said the NBN will be a win for more than just the technology sector.

In terms of job creation and investment having the headquarters in NSW will be an enormous boost to the economy," Ms Forsythe said.

"The skills that it will attract will strengthen other key NSW sectors including finance and scientific research.

I am confident that NSW business would come behind the bid because of the flow-on benefits it will have for the local economy.

* See the NSW Government's promotional video highlighting the NSW case for the headquarters of the National Broadband Network at: http://www.more.nsw.gov.au/nbnsydney

* See the Premier's announcement.