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

It is clear that those opposite are intent on saying anything, regardless of the truth of their statements. Despite the 12-month rollout being an overwhelmingly good news story, we once again saw the opposition go on the attack with the pathetic attempt by the member for Bradfield, Mr Fletcher, to smear the government with a claim of pork-barrelling. What proof did Mr Fletcher provide? In his press release of 18 October he claimed:

Every Tasmanian site—new or existing—is in a Labor or Independent electorate.

Shocking! Although, Mr President, as you might understand, there is not one single Liberal electorate in Tasmania. It is not possible to roll out the NBN in a Liberal electorate in Tasmania—there are none; not one. (Time expired)