Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Why has the minister failed to keep his election commitment to complete a tender process for a national broadband network within six months of taking office? What implications does that have for his promise to commence construction and offer services over the new network by the end of this year?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Nash. She is one of the few senators on the other side of the chamber who have a genuine interest in this particular issue. The national broadband network is the biggest national investment in broadband infrastructure ever made by an Australian government. It represents a long-overdue investment in our nation’s future prosperity. After 11 years of inaction by those opposite, the state of broadband infrastructure has fallen behind that in countries we consider our international peers. The Rudd government has committed up to $4.7 billion and will consider regulatory changes to facilitate the rollout of the new network that will boost Australia’s productivity. Furthermore, it demonstrates that, unlike those opposite, we understand technology and the future broadband needs of Australians.

The government is moving quickly and methodically to fulfil its election commitment. In March the government established a panel of experts who bring a strong blend of technical, regulatory, business, investment and policy skills, reflecting the complexities of the telecommunications sector. In April the government released the formal request for proposals, which sets out the Commonwealth’s 18 key objectives for the NBN. Among other things—

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order—that of relevance. I specifically asked the minister why he had failed to keep his election commitment to complete the tender process within six months of taking office.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. As you know, I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. I draw the minister’s attention to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In June we received over 80 submissions on the regulatory structure for the NBN, which my department’s specialist advisers as well as the expert panel are considering. In May I announced that proponents would have 12 weeks to consider the necessary network information before lodging proposals. On 7 August the government released final instruments setting out the network information that carriers are to provide for the NBN and the rules to safeguard the information. On 3 September I announced that the last of the network information requested from carriers was available to national broadband network proponents. Accordingly, proponents then had 12 weeks to consider the network information before lodging their proposals on 26 November 2008.

This is a major step forward in the government’s comprehensive plan to provide Australians with higher speed broadband services. Once proposals are received the expert panel will have two months to consider submissions before making a recommendation to government. Once the recommendation has been considered, the government will be in a position to make a formal announcement.

It is somewhat ironic that those opposite criticise the government’s NBN process, as they have no idea what side of the fence they are sitting on regarding this matter. The shadow minister originally called the process’s time lines ‘dangerously truncated and unrealistic’. That was the shadow minister. Yet only weeks later the flip-flopping shadow minister changed his position again to criticise the government for ‘time table overruns’, asking ‘Why has it taken so long?’ Even more embarrassing is that the backflip came after Mr Billson in a press statement on 22 May stated:

I have made it perfectly clear that I would not criticise the Minister—

(Time expired)

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the minister aware that the private sector has frozen further investment in broadband infrastructure as a direct result of uncertainties surrounding his national broadband network process, and does the minister recognise that further delays will stagnate the rollout of affordable high-speed internet access to working families?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Nash for the supplementary question. I was in the middle of going through Mr Billson’s quote. On 22 May he said:

I have made it perfectly clear that I would not criticise the Minister for extending his deadlines ...

If those opposite could communicate with each other—have a chat between chambers—you might not get such embarrassing questions being bowled up in question time. The timetable provided in the request for proposals is clearly stated. It is indicative. It was always based on the presumption that proponents would have access to relevant network information to prepare and cost their proposals. Exactly what is the opposition’s line with respect to timing? What is your line?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, your time has expired. Senator Nash?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order—of relevance—but obviously we have run out of time. I specifically asked the minister whether he was aware that the private sector had frozen further investment. He did not address the question at all.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nash, you are on your feet with one second to go. There is no point of order and the time for answering the question has expired.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.