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

I thank Senator Payne for the question. Now, and increasingly into the future, high-speed broadband should be seen as a critical utility service like water, sewerage, electricity and gas. Belatedly, even the coalition has accepted this; it was your election policy. Those opposite had an election policy that recognised that fibre should be in new estates, but they provided no pathway towards this outcome and merely recommended that everything be put on hold.