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

It is a difficult question to answer which Senator Sterle has just posed, because I can in fact identify 19 alternative plans that those opposite had from opposition. Their 19th plan did make a commitment to a backhaul program, a commitment for which 98.5 per cent of funding was not available until June 2013. Let me repeat that: those opposite made a big song and dance that they had a broadband plan and a plan for regional Australia, and 98.5 per cent of the funding they promised was not available in the entire first term of their would-be government. In contrast, we will be lighting up links in March next year. However, I cannot tell you what their possible 20th broadband plan might hold for regional Australia. Their credentials will soon be put to the test. (Time expired)