Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. I refer to the now Prime Minister's announcement on 14 December 2014 that the taxpayer would 'take progressive ownership of the Optus HFC cable network and use this infrastructure in the NBN rollout'. Given that Optus planned to mothball its old HFC network years ago and this government did not finalise the new Optus deal until December last year, is the Optus HFC network fit for purpose for the NBN rollout?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am glad Senator McLucas raises the HFC technology, which is around Australia, because accessing the HFC infrastructure is one of the main reasons why this government and nbn co is going to be in a position to rollout the National Broadband Network nationwide much faster than would have been the case if those opposite had remained in office. As a government we think that it makes good sense to use the infrastructure that is there, and the HFC, in particular, is there in most capital cities and the Gold Coast. This government and nbn co is pursuing what is known as a multitechnology mix and that is that the NBN is, in a sense, technology agnostic. The NBN will avail itself of the technology that will best see the NBN rolled out fastest and at lowest cost to taxpayers. As Senator McLucas points out, Optus does have HFC cables. Telstra do as well. The NBN will be availing itself of those network opportunities as is appropriate.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

() (): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note that the minister did not answer my initial question. I refer to the now Prime Minister's comments on 20 July 2012 when he said that the Optus HFC network could be upgraded for 'a modest cost' to provide NBN-equivalent services for most customers. Given that Optus planned to mothball its old HFC network years ago, is it still the policy of this government to use this infrastructure, and are the costs of upgrading it still modest? (Time expired)

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is certainly the view of this government, and the approach of nbn co, that the HFC infrastructure be used as is appropriate. I will make what I think is probably a self-evident point—but I will make it for those opposite anyway—that using the HFC infrastructure that is there will see the NBN roll out sooner—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock!

Senator Fifield interjecting—

Order, Minister! Do you have a point of order, Senator Moore?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. I have been listening very carefully, and I am asking the minister to respond on direct relevance to the issue around the Optus HFC network.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. I will remind the minister of the question.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Allow the minister to answer.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I really need not continue, because those opposite seem content to both ask and answer their own questions. It is a very Rudd-like approach by those opposite: ask a question and then answer it yourself. I do not know why they bother—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock!

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! You have a colleague on her feet waiting to raise of point of order, I assume. Do you have a point of order, Senator Moore?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. Again, it is direct relevance in terms of the Optus HFC network. The minister has fluffed around a little bit to cover some time, but he has still got two seconds.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. The minister has two seconds in which to answer the question.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will be using Optus and Telstra.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I note that the cost of this government's second-rate NBN has nearly doubled to $56 million, and the time frame for rolling it out has more than doubled to 2020. Isn't it true that the Optus HFC network is not fit for purpose and overbuilding it will cause more delays and further blow out this government's costs for a second-rate NBN?

An opposition senator interjecting —

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, they like to answer their own question, Mr President.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you do it? Can you actually answer a question?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I will answer the question if those opposite want to listen. As I have made crystal clear, NBN will be using the Telstra and Optus HFC network as is appropriate. I am not sure what it is that colleagues opposite are having a difficulty grasping, but I completely reject Senator McLucas' assertion that the approach this government is taking will be at greater cost to taxpayers than that which those opposite were going to pursue. Wrong! If the plan of those opposite were pursued, the NBN would be delivered nationwide much much further into the future and at much much greater cost to the taxpayer.