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Mouthy Ruslan Kogan has gone on the attack against Julia Gillard’s handling of the set top box scheme.
CEO of Kogan today blasted the Australian Government for their handling of the set-top box scheme, which shows it may be costing the taxpayer an average of $698 per device – an astonishing 30 times the cost of one that can be bought from JB Hi-Fi or any retailer at just $39.
The 28-year old Melbournian entrepreneur said he was “appalled” and disgusted by the government’s wastage of tax payer funds, while plugging his online store Kogan.com’s offers.
The Labour Government’s set top box scheme to kit out pensioners and the disabled with digital boxes was initially scheduled to cost $69.5 million in the 2009-10 federal budget, but this has now inflated to $309m in 2011, say reports.
 Fancy a Kogan set top, Julia? |
The program is designed for those on social welfare or unable to buy and install their own digital device.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy denied the cost of the scheme had risen, telling The Australian the circa $700 figure was “intellectually dishonest.”
Read How A $19 Digital STB Becomes $698 When Installed By Federal Labour Government
“The amount of taxpayer money the government is wasting on this Set Top Box scheme is absolutely disgusting,” says Kogan.
He also claimed the $700 cost per box is “just incomprehensible,” and a “gross misuse of tax payer money and government incompetence.”
So, Ms Gillard, good old Kogan says he will sell you a full featured set top box at a knock down price (isn’t she lucky).
They all have a one-cable installation process, and Kogan staff can even assist if the elderly are having difficulties. Wow.
“Ms. Gillard needs to understand that Australians are amongst the most tech savvy people in the world and will not be fooled by such schemes,” Kogan added.
“We know a Set Top Box is not worth $700 by itself. Where is the rest of the money going?”
“When you have a situation where a private company [like Kogan] can sell a 55” LED TV with a built in Set Top Box for the same price that the government is sourcing just a small box, you know something is very wrong.
He also said the government should “leave the job to technology experts rather than going it alone.”
But somehow, we can see Mr Kogan giving away freebie device to the poor and needy.
Can you?
