Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

The principal budget commitments in the Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio are as follows. Before we proceed to questions I want to make an opening statement about the process for establishing the national broadband network. As you are all aware, the process is live. The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and its specialist advisers are currently examining information received in response to the request for proposals. It is of critical importance in a process like this that integrity and confidentiality are maintained to ensure the commercial and policy objectives of the Commonwealth are not compromised. Accordingly, the government will not make any further comments about the process until it has run its course—something I am sure the shadow minister would respect.

This is consistent with the approach taken by the opposition when they were in government. Senator Minchin’s position in government when referring to T3 was that consideration of the appropriation bills, including the estimates process, should not be used to do anything to disrupt or damage the competitive process underway. Senator Minchin noted the risk for inadvertent comment to affect the competitive process and outcome. He was of the view then that committees needed to be mindful of the process underway and that, in the T3 context, questions would be answered once this very significant float had been completed. He said that in Hansard on Thursday, 2 November 2006 and on Wednesday, 1 November 2006. With this in mind I will not be commenting about the number of bonds and deeds received or the identity of parties who lodged those bonds and deeds. The RFP is a public document and it clearly sets out the government’s objectives for the national broadband network and establishes the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. It is available for all interested parties to read.

The government has also allocated $270.7 million for a further four years to continue the Australian Broadband Guarantee program. The continuation of the program provides a safety net for Australians in rural and remote areas who are not able to access a remote comparable broadband service, Australians living in metropolitan black spot areas, and the remaining two per cent of Australians not covered by the national broadband network. The government has committed $125.8 million over four years to cybersafety measures. The cybersafety initiative will provide practical guides for parents and teachers and improved websites with cybersafety information, and support internet service providers that offer a filtered internet service to all homes, schools and public internet points accessible to children. The initiative will also provide for some $49 million for a range of law enforcement measures to ensure online safety.

I also want to make some comments in relation to the transition to digital television. The government has announced a $37.9 million transition strategy to facilitate the switch-over to digital television by December 2013. The strategy will specifically evaluate digital TV transmission and reception issues, including research into reception problems associated with multi-unit dwellings. In addition, funding will also be provided to track public awareness of, and progress with, digital TV conversion and develop labelling for products to assist consumers to switch over. The government will also provide $2.4 million over the next four years to promote contemporary Australian music through the Australian music radio airplay project. This is an important initiative to promote Australian music on community radio. These measures combined will ensure that Australians gain maximum benefits from advances in technology and the advance of the digital economy.

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