The Nationals' $2B price tag to support the sale of Telstra is a meaningless estimate with no account for the real cost of providing parity of price and service for country Australians, according to Peter Andren, Member for Calare.

"The Nationals know they will face a backlash in rural areas and are desperate to create the impression they are protecting the interests of country Australians while doing the bidding of the Liberal party," Mr Andren said.

"Nationals leader Mark Vaille has plucked this $2B figure out of thin air - it takes no account of how much is actually required to bring telecommunications services in country areas up to a basic quality standard, and that's before we begin to talk about internet and broadband access.

"The Nationals' own 'Page Report' said $7B will bring fibre optics to all but the most remote areas. This estimate is well off the mark with Telstra costing the same job at $30B.

"Now the Nationals expect us to believe a $2B fund returning $100m a year will provide parity of service at the same price enjoyed by those in capital cities.

"This sort of money won't even come close to repairing the existing network let alone providing for rolling out any new technology.

"Yesterday Telstra described the universal service obligation (USO) fund as inadequate and unsustainable, and this fund is worth $171m in the next financial year. If $170m is already inadequate what good is $100m a year going to achieve?

"This latest effort by the Nationals is simply an attempt to save political face.

"If the Liberals grant their junior coalition partners this $2B fund, there is no guarantee that a future government will not close it down.

"The Nationals know the only guarantee for equal and affordable access to telecommunications is continued majority public ownership of Telstra, but they will sell their constituents out for a few seats at the cabinet table.

"With surveys by NSW Farmers and independent federal MPs showing an overwhelming majority opposed to the sale, the Nationals must represent the interests of their country electorates or be punished at the ballot box," Mr Andren said.