Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

To quote from some of those opposite who actually do understand the laws of physics, Mr Bruce Scott, a former Howard government minister, stated: ‘The optic fibre cable is the superhighway of the future.’ Mr Tony Windsor, the popular Independent member and someone who spends a lot of time focused on those issues, said: ‘Fibre-to-the-node infrastructure is the best option.’

Yet again, these views reflect those of senators in this chamber like Senators Nash and Joyce, who in 2005 released a report on behalf of the National Party think tank, the Page Research Centre. I know that is an oxymoron. Senator Macdonald has always agreed with me on that. This report recommended that the then government consider a five-year rollout of—guess what?—fibre optic across non-metropolitan areas. So the fact that one commentator might mislead the shadow minister this early in his portfolio is worrying; it is of concern. But let me be clear: this is about the laws of physics.