Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

The motion in question was originally drafted on the premise that the response to the order for the production of documents number No. 567 was not compliant with the Senate's request. That is not correct. The order was complied with. The government response to the interim report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee's inquiry into the shutdown of 3G was tabled. Telstra and Optus plan to switch off their 3G networks from 31 August and 1 September, respectively, but have delayed their switch-offs to 28 October 2024, which is welcomed.

The now amended motion is unnecessary, given the transparency afforded to the Senate through the interim response. Furthermore, any decision to take regulatory action in relation to the 3G shutdown is a matter of administrative law, and it is not appropriate to pre-empt it through a debate in the Senate. In addition, the 3G shutdown inquiry has already been debated through the Senate committee, and the recommendations are under active consideration by government. The government will not support this motion, on the basis of the above.