John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will be very brief. What a disgusting act this is! Everyone in this place and in the other place knows exactly why that $2 billion was put away in the fund. We know it is for those people out there in the bush—working hard, delivering the food, driving on the dirt roads and the rough roads—just to get a bit of a fair go when it comes to their telecommunications. I wish to express my disgust about what is happening. Minister Sherry used the word ‘outrageous’. I will use the word again: it is outrageous what they are doing. They are treating rural Australia with absolute contempt. It is a disgraceful act. The people of rural Australia will see this and they will let the government know come next election exactly what they think. That is all I have to say.