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

I know that Senator Conroy is desperately embarrassed by being pinged here. Labor has tried to delay the rollout of the new, competitive, high-speed broadband network by OPEL and then tried to publicly attack the government in international forums and in seats all around Australia by talking up the Labor Party. Telstra’s disgraceful behaviour is on display for all to see. The Labor Party’s cynical, sneaky and opportunistic part in trying to delay the OPEL network build has been shown for what it is. Labor has no plan for over three million premises in rural and regional Australia that will simply miss out under its sham plan. Regional and rural Australians know that you cannot rely on the Labor Party. The only true friend of rural and regional Australia is the coalition, which will continue to deliver the services they need and want.