Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) 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 categorically rule out that the draft Greenhill Caliburn report questions the financial viability of NBN Co.’s business plan?

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

Thank you.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

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

As I constantly say, I really wish I could smoke what you get to smoke at times, Senator Brandis!

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

Senator Conroy, withdraw that.

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

I withdraw. The question of the Greenhill Caliburn report is a matter that is, as the good senator would know, a confidential contribution towards cabinet deliberations. It is a part of the documentation that goes towards cabinet deliberations. Even if I were remotely considering answering that, I am not in a position to. Those opposite for many years—11½ years that I was in this chamber—refused point-blank any suggestion that they should reveal material that actually went to the heart of cabinet discussions. To stand up on the opposite side and seek that sort of information just shows you that they continue to follow the orders of their leader, Mr Abbott, to demolish the NBN. You have been unsuccessful so far and you will continue to be unsuccessful. The Australian public are crying out for new health services, new education services and new sustainable energy policies, and those are going to be delivered by the National Broadband Network, despite the best efforts of those opposite.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given the minister would not answer the first question and rule that out, can the minister categorically rule out that the NBN business plan contains a direct or indirect reference suggesting that the technology options outlined in the NBN rollout are in some way insufficient?

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

Yet again the good senator has decided that he wants to seek information about confidential information for the deliberations of cabinet.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Those opposite can scream like banshees as long as they want. We are doing nothing more than following the standard procedure of all governments, including the government that was in power before us for 11½ years. Material that is necessary for the consideration of cabinet is not commented on, it is not speculated on and it is not revealed. That will be the ongoing practice of this government. The hypocrites on the opposite side—

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

Senator Conroy, you need to withdraw that.

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

I did not realise that was unparliamentary. I withdraw unreservedly, Mr President. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. In that case, can the minister confirm that he has received a draft copy of the Greenhill Caliburn report, and will the minister now state categorically that he is declaring this to be a cabinet document and therefore exempt from any external consideration?

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

The question, again, asks me to speculate on a range of information that will be part of an ongoing—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: the question does not ask for any form of speculation, and if that is the way the minister understands the question then he has misunderstood the question. The question asks two things: firstly, whether or not a document has been received—that is a yes or no question—and, secondly, whether or not the minister is treating the document as a cabinet-in-confidence document. Those are the only two items of information sought by the question.

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

There is no point of order. The minister is addressing the question. The minister has 42 seconds remaining to answer the question.

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

Unfortunately, Mr President, those opposite continue to be operating on an incorrect basis for their question.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

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

Call it what you want; it is actually incorrect. They still continue to make incorrect assertions based on incorrect information that they believe they have. So those opposite continue—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Those opposite continue to demonstrate they are interested in nothing more than demolishing the National Broadband Network.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Incorrect. Incorrect.