Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

The jobs and opportunities of the future are not going to create themselves. They must be built on strong digital and innovation infrastructure and with the technical skills of our people. This is why Labor planned and started construction of the NBN and announced we would invest in STEM skills in our schools and introduce computer coding into our national curriculum. I am surprised that the government members on the other side would want to interject when we are talking about the NBN. I would have thought the senator from Western Australia would know and understand the value of the NBN to his community.

Senator Smith interjecting—

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

I know that the Minister for Tourism and International Education is still a bit sore about being relegated to the fifth position on the Senate ticket, but he of all people should be fully aware of how important the NBN is to the Tasmanian economy. As the minister for tourism, he should be embracing the rollout of the NBN. He should be urging his Prime Minister to get into the 21st century. He was very agile and nimble when it came to knifing Mr Abbott, but he has not been as nimble or as agile or as innovative when it is about bringing the NBN into his state.