Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government remains firmly committed to keeping the NBN in public ownership, ensuring that it serves the interests of all Australians. The NBN is too vital to be gambled with, and it's too critical to our digital and economic future to fall into private hands. Our decision to retain the NBN in public ownership is grounded in the very hard lessons of the past. The coalition's reckless push to privatise Telstra left regional Australia at the mercy of monopoly market power and stunted broadband growth nationwide. Labor in contrast believes in a connected Australia. It's why we launched the NBN in 2008 as a public asset—to ensure reliable, affordable high-speed internet for all Australians.

Labor laid the foundation for a government owned broadband network designed to propel Australia into the digital age. This vision was championed by former senator Stephen Conroy, the first minister for communications responsible for the NBN. His foresight and his dedication were instrumental in ensuring the NBN's effective establishment and initial rollout, laying the foundations for a network that would provide equitable access to high-speed internet across the nation.

Despite successive Liberal governments' efforts to undermine the NBN and divert it from its original purpose, former senator Conroy's leadership remains central to its enduring success. You might allow me the indulgence, Deputy Speaker Goodenough: I disclose that I worked for former senator Conroy for a long period of time—six years—during the period of the NBN's initial rollout. You can commit some fairly serious crimes and go to prison for less time than I worked for Stephen Conroy—and, with the greatest of respect to Stephen Conroy, you can have a more enjoyable time while you're there! I would have to say of former senator Conroy that he was entirely, and sometimes painfully, visionary about the role of the NBN not just as a piece of technology but as an opus of critical economic infrastructure that would build Australia's economy and allow Australia to continue to grow and to explore new economic opportunities and take those opportunities to the world, and I think that vision has borne out much more rapidly than anyone initially thought might be the case.

The importance of the NBN for periurban and regional communities like mine cannot be overstated. These areas are hubs of growing families, small businesses and essential industries. However, they often face unique challenges in accessing the same level of services enjoyed in metropolitan centres. Reliable, high-speed internet is one way we can combat that disadvantage by connecting communities like Hawke to critical services such as health and education. In health care, the NBN is enabling a revolution in how services are delivered to periurban and regional areas. Telehealth consultations are now a lifeline for patients who would otherwise need to travel long distances to see a specialist. High-speed internet makes it possible for doctors to provide timely, accurate diagnoses via video consultations. This connectivity reduces wait times, lowers travel costs and ensures that, where possible, families in Hawke have access to world-class health care without leaving our community.

Similarly, the NBN is transforming education. High-speed internet has unlocked access to a wealth of online resources—virtual classrooms and remote learning opportunities. Students in Hawke can now participate in interactive science experiments, collaborate with peers across the country and even attend advanced courses offered by institutions in urban centres—all from their local school or home. This connectivity ensures that all Australians, no matter where they live, have the tools they need to compete and to thrive.

When Labor first envisioned the NBN, it was about more than faster internet; it was about building a fairer, more connected, more prosperous Australia. For periurban and regional communities like Hawke, where I live, the NBN is not just a utility; it is a driver of equity and opportunity. It breaks down barriers to essential services, fosters innovation and strengthens the very fabric of our communities.

By keeping the NBN in public ownership, we ensure these vital benefits continue to flow not just for today but for the generations to come. Labor's vision for the NBN is a vision for a stronger, more connected nation where all Australians, no matter where they live, can access the opportunities that they deserve.

Today the NBN has made remarkable progress. Over 12.4 million premises are ready to connect, with 8.6 million homes and businesses actively connected. Ninety-seven per cent of the fixed-line network can now access speeds of at least 50 megabits per second, with over nine million premises enabled for gigabit speeds. By the end of 2025 90 per cent of Australian homes and businesses will have access to gigabit speeds—a testament to our commitment to world-class connectivity. These upgrades matter. They reduce fault rates and technician callouts, meaning fewer disruptions for households and businesses.

Since coming to office we've rolled out 70,000 kilometres of new fibre and have $480 million in fixed-wireless upgrades on track to be finished by the end of this year. Over 2,300 towers have been upgraded with speeds now capable of up to 100 megabits per second, including new fixed-wireless products offering speeds of 250 and 400 megabits per second. It's not just about speed; it's about economic growth. Economic research estimates that a faster, higher-capacity NBN will boost Australia's GDP by $400 billion between now and 2030. Every increase of one megabit per second in average broadband speed is estimated to add 0.04 per cent to our GDP, with the benefits felt even more profoundly in remote communities where faster broadband generates up to 16 times the GDP uplift compared to metropolitan areas.

Labor's vision for the NBN extends to those who need it most. Through our School Student Broadband Initiative over 18,000 families now have free internet until the end of 2025, ensuring our young Australians are not left behind. For rural and remote areas our Sky Muster Plus satellite service now offers uncapped data plans and maximum speeds of up to 100 megabits per second, expanding opportunities for education, work and social connection.

Affordability and reliability are at the heart of our public ownership commitment. Since 2017 communications prices in Australia have decreased by nine per cent even as CPI rose by 22 per cent. This stability has been achieved because we've kept the NBN under government control, preventing price hikes intended to prepare for privatisation—hikes the coalition would have readily endorsed.

Labor has invested in an NBN that works for every Australian and we've made it affordable for every Australian. We rejected the coalition's proposed price hike and instead chose to make broadband accessible to the masses. Unlike the coalition, we will not gamble with our nation's digital infrastructure by selling it off. The coalition, through their early legislative steps, prepared the NBN for sale and even supported increasing wholesale prices to bolster income streams for a future private owner.

The NBN is too essential to be anything but a publicly owned asset. Beyond economics, it's critical for our national security and our cyber-resilience. Government oversight ensures that our network remains protected from potential foreign ownership and from the associated risks to sovereignty. This bill also sends a clear message about the role of government in ensuring equitable access to essential services.

The National Broadband Network is not just a utility. As I said before, it is a social equaliser. By keeping the NBN in public hands, we are prioritising connectivity for every Australian regardless of where they live or their personal financial circumstances.

A publicly owned NBN means that families in rural and regional Australia, who have long faced the double burden of higher costs and inferior services, can finally expect to be treated equally. This is a government taking action, not leaving outcomes to chance or profit motives.

This legislation also reflects the evolving role of digital infrastructure in our daily lives. The NBN is no longer just about providing internet for entertainment. The internet is the foundation for telehealth, remote work, online education and smart agriculture. Farmers in our regions use it to monitor weather patterns and improve crop yields. Students rely on it for virtual classrooms and access to global educational resources. Start-ups and small businesses depend on fast, reliable broadband to connect with markets worldwide.

The Albanese government understands that safeguarding the NBN is about safeguarding Australia's future competitiveness and opportunities for innovation. We must not forget the risks of doing otherwise. Privatising the NBN, as those opposite have toyed with in the past and I daresay are toying with as we speak, would turn this essential service into just another for-profit enterprise. We've seen where that leads: costs rise, services decline and those in less-profitable areas are left behind. Australians are still grappling with the consequences of Telstra's privatisation, and we cannot allow history to repeat itself. The National Broadband Network is too vital to be sold off and sacrificed for short-term fiscal gain or political expedience—or, in the case of those opposite over their term of government, to plug budgetary black holes.

It's also worth addressing the economic impact of public ownership. Keeping the NBN in public hands isn't just about protecting consumers; it's about securing long-term returns for our nation. A publicly owned NBN continues to generate value for Australian taxpayers while ensuring that services remain accessible and affordable. This is a government making sound, future focused investments, not hollowing out essential infrastructure for short-term political wins. Lastly, this bill is about protecting Australia's sovereignty and security in a digital age. A publicly owned NBN ensures that critical infrastructure remains under Australian control, safeguarding our national security interests. In an era when cybersecurity threats are increasing, this Labor government is ensuring that one of our most important assets is protected, managed and operated exclusively in the national interest.

The Albanese Labor government believes that the National Broadband Network belongs to the Australian people—every family, every worker, every business. It is a fundamental pillar of equity, economic growth and national security. By keeping it in public hands we ensure that it serves everyone, not just the special few. That is what good government does: it builds a fairer, better future for all Australians.

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