Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. I refer the minister to remarks by Rupert Murdoch that broadband in Australia is ‘a disgrace’. Is the minister aware that James Packer also recently described Australia’s broadband position as ‘embarrassing’ and that Fairfax has stated that Australian internet speeds are slower and internet pricing is more expensive than many other developed countries? Hasn’t the ABC’s managing director, Mark Scott, echoed these sentiments? Will the minister finally accept the consensus and condemnation of Australia’s broadband performance or does she believe that the leaders of the four largest internet and media companies in Australia are ignorant of the basics of their business?