My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister advise the Senate on how the Gillard government’s commitment to build the National Broadband Network will help address climate change?

I will give you the call when they are silent, Senator Conroy. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

I thank Senator Bishop for his question. The National Broadband Network will connect all Australians’ homes, businesses—

All of them?

Yes—and hospitals to high-speed broadband. This will underpin and enable Australia’s digital economy. Taking advantage of digital economy opportunities will help Australia tackle major public policy challenges such as better managing our environment, energy and infrastructure. Ubiquitous high-speed broadband will facilitate greater teleworking opportunities and reduce the need for business travel through the greater use of telepresence technology, which will reduce carbon emissions.

Smart grid technology has the potential to reduce home energy bills and cut carbon pollution. Smart grids enable a two-way flow of information over a communications network that will provide a greater ability to incorporate renewable energy and allow consumers to manage their energy use. Early estimates show that, if smart grid applications are adopted around Australia, they could deliver an estimated reduction of 3.5 megatonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

The NBN will help Australia lead a global transformation as energy networks deploy broadband-enabled solutions to drive efficiency and the capacity— (Time expired)

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators—More!

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for that very informative response. Building on that, can the minister explain to the Senate how greater uptake of teleworking will assist Australia tackle climate change and how the NBN will facilitate greater uptake?

We all hope on this side of the chamber that one day those on the opposite side of the chamber will join us in the 21st century, when you do not laugh at the mention of teleworking, because teleworking can assist Australia to tackle climate change through decreased fuel consumption, decreased congestion in our cities and infrastructure savings. Access Economics estimates that a 10 per cent increase in Australian employees that telework just 50 per cent of the time would save over 120 million litres of fuels and 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Sit down, Senator Conroy. I am waiting for silence. Senator Conroy.

The NBN will be a catalyst for growth in teleworking because it will provide greater certainty— (Time expired)

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the Gillard government is utilising broadband-enabled technologies to tackle climate change?

The Gillard government has deployed a national telepresence system, with at least two facilities operating in each capital city. Usage of the system commenced in October 2009 and full interjurisdictional capability was achieved in July 2010. At the end of January 2011, 344 meetings had taken place, using the system for a total of 580 hours. Usage has been increasing steadily since it was first commissioned. Savings to date from not using airlines, taxis and hotels and from less lost productivity are $3.009 million. The use of telepresence has resulted in approximately 490 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents not being attributed to the Australian government. (Time expired)

Senator Barnett is waiting to ask his question.