Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Just prior to 'Swindler Sunday', is the minister aware that this week Australia Post imposed a one per cent fuel surcharge on non-declared services? Minister, does this include or exclude the effect of the carbon tax? If it includes the carbon tax, do you believe that not sending or receiving parcels is good for the climate? If it does not include the carbon tax, are you going to change it after 'Swindler Sunday'?

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

The answers could probably be described as: yes, I am aware and, no, it is not correct that it has anything to do with the carbon tax.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Is the minister aware whether or not Australia Post has any plans to apply to the ACCC to increase the price of its declared services, such as the 60c standard mail stamp, as a result of the carbon tax?

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

Senator Joyce is taking a new interest in Australia Post, a universal service for which the National Party have traditionally supported the concept of universal pricing across the country. But they do not support this on broadband—on postal stamps from the 20th century but not the 21st century means of communication, broadband.

Australia Post's pricings are subject, he is correct, to ACCC regulations. Australia Post will, as always, be required to go through that process. There have been a number of increases in the stamp price over recent years. The ACCC have in fact knocked back Australia Post—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, by reason that he has only got nine seconds left, and the point is one of relevance—

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

Is this a point of order, Senator Joyce?

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance.

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

You should state that at the outset.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance, Mr President.

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

Yes, that's better.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question that was asked was: does he know of any plans to apply to the ACCC for increases on the declared services by reason of the carbon tax? It is either yes or no.

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

I believe there is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. I call the minister.

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

Thank you, Mr President. I am not aware of any plans by Australia Post to apply for any issues around carbon pricing. (Time expired)

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, as he has said he is not aware, I have a final supplementary question. It is quite obvious that the greater the distance the greater the cost when it comes to anything pertaining—

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

You're a genius!

Government senators interjecting—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That could well apply to his costing on broadband with his three silos.

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

Senator Joyce, ask your question. Those on my right, cease interjecting.

Government senators interjecting—

Order on my right!

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They're very rude, Mr President.

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

I don't ask for comment, Senator Joyce. Continue.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The further distance from capital cities already means that Australians in regional areas need to pay more to receive and send goods by post.

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

Was there a question there? I will divine around to see if I can nut out what that question was.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

But thank you for explaining that information to me, Senator Joyce. I am sure that was of great interest to all of us here in the Senate. I did note some interjections such as, 'How on earth can you be so hypocritical as to be campaigning in favour of uniform prices for postage when you are opposing uniform prices for broadband?' How can you be so hypo­critical? Those in that corner have a glass jaw on this. You are opposing the broadband network and universal pricing, but trying to run a campaign on universal pricing for postage.

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

Senator Conroy, resume your seat.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Joyce interjecting—

Senator Joyce, you will get the call.

Government senators interjecting—

You are entitled to be heard in silence. Order, those on my right!

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Mr President. I am sure he does not mean to mislead us all, but there are three forms of pricing for broadband—

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

No, you are not allowed to debate it. There is no point of order, Senator Joyce. Senator Conroy, you have 26 seconds remaining if you have anything to add.

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

As I was saying, I fully understand the sensitivity of those in that corner—those self-proclaimed friends of the bush who are opposing modern communications, universal pricing. They are trying to protect a guarantee, which we have already done—uniform pricing for postage—but not uniform pricing for broadband. You should be ashamed of yourself, Senator Joyce. You should look behind yourself. You used to be a conviction— (Time expired)