Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In his ministerial statement today the Minister for Communications said:

Even just prior to the 7 September election, long after it was clear to most observers that the rollout was missing every goal, the member for Grayndler continued to assert 5.5 million households and businesses would get the NBN by 2016.

The former minister knew that was untrue as demonstrated by the draft 2013 NBN Co. Corporate Plan he had received, and accorded to a leaked minute published in The Australian presented to cabinet in July.

The facts are these: this is untrue, as 5.5 million premises has never been a target for construction by 2016. There was a number of premises for which construction was expected to be commenced or completed by 2016, based on the three-year rollout plan released in March 2013. The corporate plan provided no alternative advice.