Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister inform the Senate on the progress of and any recent developments with the government’s nation-building investment in the National Broadband Network?

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

I am pleased to say that considerable progress continues to be made with the rollout of the National Broadband Network, a critical nation-building investment for the long-term benefit of this country. In Tasmania three stage 1 communities, Scottsdale, Smithton and Midway Point, will receive services by July this year.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Conroy, resume your seat. When there is silence, we will proceed. This is not helping us proceed through question time. You know that as well as I do.

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

On 1 March I announced an equity injection for NBN Tasmania of $100 million to support the rollout to stage 2 communities and to new 90,000 stage 3 premises in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport. In all, the three stages announced so far will provide 100,000 Tasmanian premises with superfast fibre optic services. The full statewide rollout will cover 200,000 homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in Tasmania and deliver speeds of 100 megs per second. The network operations centre, where NBN Tasmania engineers can monitor the network, is nearing completion. On the mainland, construction has commenced on the 6,000 kilometres of fibre backbone links that will connect 100 regional locations across six states and territories and benefit about 395,000 regional residents and businesses. Last Tuesday came the welcome news that NBN Co. had selected five first-release sites where it will test the network’s design and construction methods, which will provide crucial information to assist in the rollout of the NBN. So the first five mainland releases were last week. (Time expired)

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister provide further detail on the locations chosen for the NBN first-release sites on the mainland and explain why the testing done at those locations will be so important for the broader network rollout?

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

As I said, NBN Co. announced five first-release sites last week: parts of Brunswick in Melbourne; an area of Townsville covering parts of the suburbs of Aitkenvale and Mundingburra; the coastal communities of Minimurra and Kiama Downs, south of Wollongong—

Opposition senators interjecting.

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

Minister, just resume your seat. We need complete order. This is not orderly at all. The minister is entitled to be heard in silence.

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

The fourth site was an area of West Armidale in New South Wales, including the University of New England, and the fifth was Willunga in South Australia. NBN Co. chose these sites so that it can test its construction techniques and network design in a diverse range of conditions relating to demography, climate and existing infrastructure and terrain. Construction will begin in the second half of this year and services will be available early next year. Crucial information will emerge from these first-release sites to continue the NBN rollout. For those opposite who continue to try to deny that this project is rolling out before their eyes, this is a timely reminder. (Time expired)

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware of industry and other stakeholder reaction to these recent NBN announcements?

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

Our recent NBN progress announcements in Tasmania and on the mainland have been welcomed by a range of stakeholders. For example, in Tasmania the Liberal opposition leader, Will Hodgman, has welcomed our forward progress on the NBN. He has said:

The announcement of an equity injection to facilitate the roll-out of fibre to the home broadband in Tasmania is warmly welcomed. This will enable further extension of the National Broadband Network to Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie. I have always strongly supported the NBN as providing great opportunities for Tasmania and the state’s economy, connecting us globally. It will also help deliver better health services, closer to home, and expand educational options for the next generation of Tasmanians.

(Time 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.