Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Colbeck for his question. It is an undeniable fact that the government's multitechnology mix is making significant progress across the country. With nearly four million connections, we're providing Australians, including students, farmers and small business operators, with the tools they need to engage in the digital economy. We're doing this sooner and more affordably than our predecessors ever could have achieved it. I'm very pleased to advise colleagues in the Senate that the rollout of the NBN in Tasmania is virtually complete. The NBN in Tasmania has now passed 99 per cent of premises. Over 170,000 Tasmanian homes and premises now have an active service, which is a far cry from the barely 7,000 connections achieved under the former government.

Providing access to fast and affordable internet is a key priority for this government and we have pursued it with vigour. The NBN is now available throughout the major cities of Hobart and Launceston. Across the north-west the hubs of Devonport, Burnie and Ulverstone have seen strong take-up. Thanks to the coalition government, 94 per cent of homes and businesses in the electorate of Braddon, for instance, can now order an NBN service. Compare this to the effort from our predecessors, where the lead contractor downed tools in Tasmania in 2013 and just seven per cent of premises across all of the communities in Braddon were able to get the NBN. The story today is very, very different.