James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on these two bills, the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019 and the Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019. I will start by giving a shout out to a wonderful organisation called BIRRR—that is, Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia. It is a group of very committed regional Queenslanders, in particular, although I know there are members outside Queensland. It was set up by Kristy Sparrow and Kylie Stretton, and the work that these two ladies and their members have done to advocate and push for better internet for those who live in I suppose the inner part of Australia—the rural, regional and remote parts of Australia—is just fantastic. More grease and more power to their elbows to continue advocating on behalf of Queenslanders, especially, who are as important as the rest of country, Madam Acting Deputy President Askew. I don't particularly care about the rest of the country; all I care about is Queensland. Please don't take it personally, for the quite a few Tasmanians in the room. We are the states' house and I'm here to represent my state.

These bills that we have before us today—