Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I said, they only carp, whinge and complain and never get on with the serious issues. Whether I get an invitation from the member for Fadden or not, I can assure the House that I will be getting an invitation from their regional development body. Like the other 55 bodies around the county, that body is saying, ‘We want access to the National Broadband Network because we understand what it can do to enhance our opportunities for economic diversity, our opportunities to get better services and our opportunities to value-add to the health and education infrastructure all around the country.’

This is a historic reform and it is only through a Labor government that it has been delivered. It is fortunate that those who sit on the crossbenches understand the importance of this and have been prepared to join with us to deliver the outcomes. I ought to say to those members who sit here and oppose so negatively, go and meet with your regional development bodies around the country and see what they have to say about connecting the nation. Do something to advance opportunity rather come into this place to simply oppose by being negative and stopping at every point. Get on the bus and come along with us.

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