Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) on 18 January 2018, Senator Steele-John wrote to the Minister for Communications (Senator Fifield) to clarify the NBN Co's policy on providing internet access to people living in outbuildings and granny flats,

  (ii) on 22 May 2018, the Minister confirmed via return letter that 'granny flats that share the same address as the primary residence cannot apply for a network service as it is NBN's policy that each network service must be linked to a unique address',

  (iii) NBN Co's policy on providing internet access to people living in outbuildings and granny flats is very inflexible to a variety of living configurations and that it is not reasonable to expect that someone who is renting a granny flat, or even extended family living at one address, should be required to share the same NBN service,

  (iv) this service limitation has not been an issue with previous technologies and this limitation is not acceptable as Australia transitions to the NBN,

  (v) Australians should not suffer loss of quality, flexibility, stability, or cost-effectiveness when transitioning to the NBN, particularly when this transition is ultimately not optional; and

(b) calls on the government to deliver a fit-for-purpose national broadband network that meets the needs of all Australians, including those living in outbuildings and granny flats.