Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bushby, for your question. I might start with the NBN. I am very pleased to report that in the last 12 months NBN has continued its run of success. It is fair to say that this government inherited what was a failed project, and that was salvaged by Mr Turnbull. A little more than a year ago, Mr Turnbull and Mr Morrow outlined an ambitious plan based on a three-step scale-up which would see three-quarters of the nation able to access the NBN by 2018. A year on, I can advise that NBN has more than doubled its footprint, its revenue and its connections.

Coverage is now expanding at the rate of 30,000 premises each and every week. That is more than 120,000 premises each month. Part of the reason for this success is that, unlike the theological approach of those opposite, we have taken a technology-agnostic approach and used the technology that sees the NBN get to people the fastest and at the lowest cost. So, over the last year, we have released three new products: fibre to the node, the long-term satellite service known as Sky Muster, and HFC—an unadulterated story of good news with the NBN.

I should also mention that we are cracking on with our $220 million mobile phone black spot program. Round 1 will see 499 new and upgraded base stations—great news for regional Australia. I should not forget: we have also provided a 25 per cent cut in licence fees for broadcast media and we are endeavouring to abolish the 75 per cent audience reach rule and the two-out-of-three rule, with the support of the other side, I hope. (Time expired)