Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator McAllister. The NBN is a piece of critical infrastructure designed to provide reliable and affordable internet across the country. How does the NBN assist in supporting all Australians, regardless of where they live?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Grogan for her question—

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I get stopped in the street every day. Are you going to privatise the NBN?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I want to congratulate Senator Grogan for her tireless support—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister McAllister, please resume your seat. It is a shame that I have to remind senators to listen in silence to the response from the minister. Please continue, Minister.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do want to congratulate Senator Grogan for her tireless support in levelling the playing field for regional Australians. We know how important it is to have fast, reliable and affordable broadband for all Australians but particularly those Australians that live in regional Australia, because the NBN allows Australians to work remotely and run their businesses more productively.

I'm thinking about people like Brant and Angie Bettridge, whose Mt Wilga cattle farm operates some 550 kilometres west of Rockhampton, in regional Queensland. Before Brant and Angie connected to the NBN, they had little to no mobile service or internet connection and would record all their cattle numbers with a notebook and pencil. Connecting to the NBN has meant that Angie and Brant can now run their banking, their payroll and their admin over the internet. As Angie said: 'We wouldn't be able to run our farm today without the NBN. It's as simple as that. Gone are the days of the notebook and the pencil.'

This government is supporting families and businesses like Brant and Angie's right across Australia. There are 8.6 million active premises already connected to the NBN, with over 12.4 million ready to connect. Our fixed wireless upgrades are on track for completion by the end of the year, with 2,300 towers upgraded. It means faster speeds and less network faults, and this week we have introduced legislation to ensure that this critical infrastructure asset remains publicly owned, as it should be, Senator Grogan. I'm sure you will agree.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, first supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's excellent information, Minister. Thank you so much. We know the Albanese Labor government's approach is different from the previous government, but can you outline for us what the emerging risks are to the NBN remaining affordable and reliable for all Australians?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I thank Senator Grogan for her question. It really took less than 24 hours for the opposition to show Australians why they can't trust them with our publicly owned assets. Senator Hume was first out of the gate, saying, 'It was always the plan that the NBN would be privatised.' She was asked whether she would support the legislation to keep the NBN in public hands, and she refused.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left!

Order, Senator Watt! Senator Hume, when you've finished!

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's right: Senator Hume was asked to confirm her position on if she would support legislation to not sell the NBN, and she refused, saying it wasn't that simple.

We then had another Liberal member backing in Senator Hume—solidarity forever!—confirming that it has always been in contemplation that the NBN would be privatised. Lastly, we saw the shadow minister for communications trying to mop it all up on Radio National, but he wouldn't commit to supporting our bill either.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, I'm not sure which part of my instruction to be silent when ministers are answering you failed to hear or follow, but you are being disrespectful. Senator Grogan, second supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that the NBN makes a real difference in the lives of Australians through faster, more reliable internet access. If the bill before the parliament that you've referred to does not pass, can you tell us what price regional Australians will pay, and how do we prevent that from happening?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just waiting for silence.

Seriously, Senator Henderson.

And Senator Hume and Senator Watt. If you can't listen in silence, please leave the chamber.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Grogan, for that question. Public ownership is the best way to deliver an NBN that continues to be affordable and ensures that Australians have access to high-speed internet. This is important for regional Australians who rely on the NBN to run their businesses and remain connected while living, sometimes, in very remote locations.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson!

Senator Henderson, when I call your name, you are not in a debate with me, and you don't call back. I have asked you respectfully to be quiet, and you've completely ignored me. You are being disrespectful.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government's bill will ensure, of course, that the NBN remains in public hands, but those opposite are refusing to support it, and you have to ask the question why. Why is that? Well, it's because we know that they actually want to sell it, just like they sold Telstra. That's the risk, and it's one that is reinforced by all of the comments that have been made this morning. Privatising this asset will mean that people like Angie and Brant will be paying a higher price for a worse product. If those opposite truly support regional Australia, they will support our bill. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Tyrrell—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order across the chamber! I expect Senator Tyrrell to be able to ask her question in complete silence.

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ciccone, I don't need 'hear, hear' because you were one of the senators being disorderly.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I'm waiting to call Senator Tyrrell. Order! Senator Tyrrell, please ask your question.