Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My understanding of this motion—and it is not clear because Senator Fisher has chosen not to speak to this motion—is that the opposition is seeking to extend the terms of reference for the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network. Certainly it has been previously discussed by the committee that this reference would be more appropriate to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee, given the nature of its business and the history of the environment, communications and the arts committees inquiring into telecommunications and related matters. That understanding certainly changed a little while ago; hence the seeking of the reference here and the opposition senators’ recommendation, contained in their majority report, to seek to extend the reference. The government is of the view that the committee is not the best environment for these references to proceed in and has expressed the view both within the committee and generally in relation to this reference that the matters would be better referred to a new inquiry, if the opposition and crossbench so wish, to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee. In that regard, the government does not support the motion to extend the reference. I understand that I will get an opportunity to make comment with regard to the report that has now been tabled.