Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to report that the Abbott government's efforts to speed up the NBN rollout are paying off for residents and businesses in Barker. Indeed, it was my very great privilege on Wednesday, 11 June, at Tailem Bend to participate in the official switch on of fixed wireless services to five communities in my electorate. The first fixed wireless services to houses in South Australia are now online, providing high-speed internet capability to surrounding districts of Tailem Bend, Meningie, Coonalpyn, Tintinara and Naracoorte. This marks the first switch-on of fixed wireless technology anywhere in regional South Australia.

The truth is that the rollout is happening faster than ever since the coalition took government, and we are doing it by saving $32 billion. A further 12 fixed wireless towers are currently under construction across Barker. Without question it is important that families and businesses across our great nation have access to high-speed Internet services which have become such an important part of our day-to-day lives, and I congratulate and thank Minister Turnbull for his industry and endeavour in turning around a program that was more about press releases than it was about practical outcomes. The people of Barker and I are grateful. I can assure you of that.

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