Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

Once again Senator Birmingham spreads misinformation to the Australian public and to this chamber. The construction process actually went through a tender process. Telstra were entitled to apply like every other company. In going through that process NBN Co. got the best value for Australian taxpayers. I am not familiar with all the information of the tender process nor whether Telstra did or did not apply. The tenders were properly run under government guidelines. So far this year, NBN Co. has been switched on all over the country including Aspley, Bacchus Marsh, Blacktown, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, Gosford, Gungahlin, Hobart, Launceston, Toowoomba and Townsville and over 300 new developments all over the country. Many more areas will be turned on in the very near future. (Time expired)