Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Hansard source

It is absolutely critical. We've seen through COVID the importance of that connectivity for people, young people in particular, to access education opportunities. Telehealth has been of significant importance during COVID. And that connectivity is important to keep those supply chains open, particularly with food supplies during lockdowns and border closures via state governments.

Having reliable telecommunications services means being able to use those sorts of services that I've outlined when and where you need them. We've seen Australians move out of capital cities and into the regions, and it is the digital connectivity that we've been able to deliver over the last eight years that has meant they've been able to stay out there. It's why Telstra has said: 'You know what? You don't have to come back to the CBD and to the office; you can stay where you're loving to live and stay our employee.' We've consulted widely across the regions through our regional telecommunications review and look forward to delivering a response shortly. (Time expired)