Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I remind the minister that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised in 2007 that all one million laptop computers in secondary schools, that were promised by Labor, would be connected to fast, up to 100 megabytes per second fibre. Will the minister confirm that as at February this year only 12 of some 2,650 Australian secondary schools have been connected to the NBN?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! When there is silence on my left, we will proceed.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I congratulate the senator on his question. The portfolio issue is, as you know, under Senator Kim Carr, but I am happy to address it. Our investment of over $2.1 billion in the DER has massively increased ICT infrastructure in schools. Only this government has had the vision to provide access to a device for all students in years 9 to 12. We are also taking action to make sure that students can make the most of these computers by linking schools across the nation to the NBN—as you have asked—and developing high-quality digital tools, resources and infrastructure for teachers and students. Let me tell you about the school in Willunga.

Senator Payne interjecting—

The school in Willunga is connected to the National Broadband Network. Students from the school in Willunga have attended a class in astrophysics for year 10 students, which was hosted in Melbourne, because of the National Broadband Network. A recent report—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Order! When there is silence, I will recognise Senator Brandis. When there is noise in the chamber, I will not. Senator Brandis.

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

I rise on a point of order, Mr President. The point of order is directed to direct relevance. We have allowed the minister to use more than three-quarters of the time available to him to address the context of the question. But in fact he was only asked one thing: will the minister confirm that, as at February this year, only 12 of some 2,650 Australian secondary schools have been connected to the NBN? That was all that he was asked. Can I ask you to direct him to that specific question in the short time remaining to him?

Senator Wong interjecting—

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

Order! The minister has 28 seconds remaining. I do draw the minister's attention to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A school connected to the NBN in Willunga is absolutely relevant to this question. A year 10 astrophysics class which could not possibly be financed, resourced or taught in this school is available to year 10 students because it is hosted in Melbourne. I am advised that there are at least 19 schools, one polytechnic and two trade training centres connected to the NBN, and the New South Wales government said you could not connect to any. (Time expired)

Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that, in the year up to February 2013, only four secondary schools have been connected to the NBN, can the minister confirm that, at this rate, it will take the government 600 years to connect all the secondary schools to the NBN?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I have reminded people earlier during question time that calling across the chamber is disorderly. If you wish to debate it, the time is post three o'clock. If people insist on shouting across the chamber, we will just pull question time up. It is the simple way.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You know what would help connect the schools to the NBN particularly in, say, New South Wales? They are not actually building an NBN, but put that aside. What would help connect the schools is the O'Farrell government withdrawing its instruction to the schools in New South Wales not to connect to the NBN. So don't come in here and play a few games. The O'Farrell government has stood in the way of connecting schools in New South Wales to the National Broadband Network. You can sit there and shake your head, but that is the fact. Those schools could be connected, but the O'Farrell government keeps getting in the way, keeps opposing, keeps not facilitating and keeps obstructing. Senator Mason, you should ensure that you are given a full briefing on the behaviour of the New South Wales government. Whether it is connecting fibre on the poles of a New South Wales electricity company or connecting fibre to the schools— (Time expired)

Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given that, in the 5½ years since Mr Rudd's promise of fast computer connections was made, only 12 out of 2,650 high schools have been connected to the NBN—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nineteen.

Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Universities and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nineteen—will the minister now admit that the much-touted digital education revolution is just a sham? Will he look into this embarrassing policy fiasco?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He might be a knuckle dragger!

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I remind honourable senators on both sides that time for debating this is after 3 pm.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to concede that I think Senator Carr has been too kind to you, Senator Mason. He has always exempted you from the knuckle draggers, but today you have joined them. The digital education revolution is delivering astrophysics classes to year 10 students in the small country town of Willunga. It is delivering home schooling to students in Tasmania. It is delivering—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Conroy, resume your seat. When there is silence on my left, we will proceed. You are wasting the time of question time. Senator Conroy.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, those opposite might want to mock the ability to deliver an astrophysics class to a small school in the small country town of Willunga, but the knuckle draggers over there will not be able to stand in the way of the education revolution. Students in Tasmania are home schooled and attending the class. Students in Willunga are attending a Bell Shakespeare rehearsal at the Sydney Opera House and asking the actors— (Time expired)