Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications. How is the Albanese Labor government fixing the rollout of the National Broadband Network and delivering productivity benefits for Australian businesses?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give the call to—

David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You lost 8,000 customers in the last three weeks.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Banks! I have been crystal clear about giving commentary when ministers are walking to the dispatch box. You'll leave the chamber under 94(a). It is non-negotiable. Ministers are entitled to walk to the dispatch box without commentary or groans.

The member for Banks then left the chamber.

Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her longstanding advocacy for her community to receive the best-quality broadband. Labor, of course, founded the NBN with the purpose of providing fast, reliable and affordable broadband for all Australians. That's why we're investing $2.4 billion over four years to give an additional 1½ million premises full fibre access, including almost 17½ thousand in the member for Corangamite's electorate alone. Our investment will also expand full fibre access to more than 660,000 additional regional homes and businesses that currently rely on copper wire. This will boost the reliability of services and the productivity of those businesses, and that supports remote work and learning and access to important services like telehealth.

The Albanese government understands the productivity benefits that are unleashed by the highest-quality technologies. Unfortunately, those benefits could not reach their full potential due to the poor technology choices made by the former government. It is just over a decade since the coalition launched its disastrous broadband policy that promised a second-rate multitechnology mix for $29 billion, which blew out to $58 billion, a doubling of costs.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume her seat. I want to hear from the member for Petrie.

Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order under standing order 104—relevance. There was nothing in the question about opposition policies or what happened 10 years ago, absolutely nothing.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was how was the government fixing the rollout of the NBN, which in the question itself implies there may be a compare and contrast. I am sure the minister is talking about fixing the NBN as part of the answer and I give her the call. But I will make sure she remains relevant.

Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is because the decision to abandon fibre by those opposite was always about cheap politics and not about the future. We know that productivity is supercharged by high-speed broadband that is underpinned by the best technology. So mind-boggling is it that the Liberals and Nationals purchased over 60,000 kilometres of new copper, enough to wrap around planet Earth 1½ times.

But Labor is investing to expand the NBN fibre network because we believe in helping all Australians to reach their full potential through quality broadband. And we are continuing to see the benefits of improved productivity as more fibre is rolled out delivering gigabit speeds to 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the NBN fixed-line footprint by 2025.

The fact is only a Labor government can be relied on to invest in the long-term infrastructure that Australians need, including in the NBN, to be globally competitive. But there is more to do, including our continuing investments in the fixed wireless network, including our $480 million investment to upgrade that technology, trialling new uncapped satellite products to deliver faster internet in rural and regional areas. We are getting on with the job of delivering the highest quality broadband to all Australians.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.