Carol Brown (Tasmania, 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 advise the Senate about the standard of broadband services in Australia? Can the minister explain what the Gillard government is doing to improve the quality of broadband in Australia?

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

I thank Senator Brown for her ongoing interest in this issue. After 18 failed broadband plans in 11½ years, the coalition left Australians with some of the worst broadband in the world. There is no Australian city—not one—amongst the top 100 cities in the world for average internet connection speed. We are 50th in the world for internet connection speeds, behind almost every single advanced industrial economy. That is the legacy of those opposite. Australia is ranked last in the OECD for fibre penetration and we have the fifth-most-expensive broadband prices in the OECD. That is the legacy that those opposite left Australia, and, despite the claims of those opposite that broadband in metropolitan areas is just fine—can I have some of what you’re smoking? I tell you.

Their own policy document states that there are over one million lines in Australia that have broadband-limiting technologies like pair gains installed. That is their own policy document. But, if you need further evidence, Ms Kate McKenzie, a senior executive from Telstra, has admitted that two-thirds of Australians in metropolitan areas cannot get speeds of more than 12 megabits. The NBN rectifies years of policy failures by delivering affordable, world-leading broadband services to all Australian homes. (Time expired)

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Besides the Gillard Labor government’s world-leading plan for a national broadband network, is the minister aware of any other plans?

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

I am aware that those opposite threw together a half-baked broadband plan 10 days before the election, but I do not know whether that policy stands anymore. On 14 September Mr Turnbull said that the coalition’s broadband policy would be reviewed. Six days later Mr Pyne agreed:

… you wouldn’t expect our policies in 2010 to be precisely the same in 2013.

But the very next day Tony Abbott said:

… having serious second thoughts about broadband policy is not a trap that this opposition is about to fall into.

Then, yesterday, the shadow Treasurer, Mr Hockey, agreed with Mr Abbott: ‘There’s no review of our broadband policy.’ So we have the Turnbull-Pyne broadband position from those opposite and we have the Abbott-Hockey broadband position from those opposite. (Time expired)

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

I remind Senators that when they are referring to people in the other place they should be referred to by their correct titles.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate on the consequences of failing to invest in the NBN?

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

The NBN will ensure that Australians have access to affordable high-speed broadband. The NBN will create jobs, help us tackle climate change, stimulate activity in the areas of health and education and offer small businesses new opportunities, while Mr Abbott wants to wreck this future. He has appointed Mr Turnbull to demolish the NBN, and Mr Turnbull is beginning to realise that by blindly opposing the NBN he is on a fool’s errand. In fact, last night on Lateline Mr Turnbull was asked about demolishing the NBN, and he said:

The fact is that - look, I’m not interested in demolishing the NBN.

(Time expired)