Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I can understand how the opposition have been frustrated waiting for the government’s broadband policy and how anxious they have been to get hold of the maps. Maps of broadband coverage were prepared and released to all MPs, regardless of political colour, on the day of the announcement. That does not differentiate a party and it does not differentiate in any way any of the arrangements that related to the release of the maps. People on my side of the chamber and in my party only saw the maps yesterday. That is really the critical thing—that, if you have an arrangement for the preparation of paper and paperwork, that in no way differentiates the way in which you release the maps and release the information to everyone who is entitled to it. This is public information. It was all released at the same time. Despite the invitation from Senator Carr, I do not feel inclined to tell him what the maps are that are discussed in cabinet.