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

I thank Senator Bilyk for her ongoing and genuine interest in the National Broadband Network. On 18 October the Prime Minister announced the next 12-month rollout schedule for the NBN at the University of Wollongong while visiting the Illawarra. This was an historic day for Australia's next generation of broadband, which will see the fibre network delivered to 49 sites around Australia in the next 12 months, including 28 new locations. This announcement will see NBN Co. begin construction over the next 12 months to an additional 485,000 premises across Australia. This is in addition to the 81,700 premises which either have already been connected or where construction is currently underway.

The Gillard government remains committed to providing all Australians with the benefits that will be available with a world-class national broadband network, such as better educational outcomes, improved health service delivery and increased economic activity. The construction that will be undertaken during the next year will see the NBN rollout go to all parts of Australia—north, south, east and west—with a mixture of fibre and interim satellite solutions. The Gillard government remains committed to transforming Australia into a leading broadband nation. The release of the NBN 12-month construction timetable proves that this is a reality, and it is well underway. Let me list some of the towns that we have announced: Dapto, Gosford, Long Jetty, Wollongong, Darwin, Toowoomba, Townsville, Aldinga Beach, Port Augusta, Port Elliot, Yankalilla, central Ballarat— (Time expired)