Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects) Share this | Hansard source

The National Broadband Network is rolling out fibre to the node at a rate of 10,000 premises a week and, by the end of the year, it is on track to hit 25,000 premises a week. This is quite a change from the Labor years, when it was all about a customised bespoke service for just a small number of people. It was not a broadband service, actually; it was a political service. If you wanted a photo opportunity with Julia in the 2010 election, 'Yes, we can do that for you.' If you wanted a photo opportunity with Kevin in the 2013 election, 'Yes, we can do that for you.' If you wanted one of those photos of Stephen Conroy helping to feed in the fibre, 'No problem; NBN was just terrific at doing that.' If you wanted trucks driving around the country telling you how marvellous the NBN was going to be, Labor were very good at delivering those trucks. But what they were hopeless at was delivering a network.

By the time we came to government, after 4½ years, Labor had delivered to barely over 300,000 premises. Their track record of delivery was extremely disappointing. They could spend $6 billion and they could whack on the hi-vis vests and pose for a photo, but what they could not do was actually deliver a network. That is the difference with the Turnbull government. We are delivering the National Broadband Network. The member for Brisbane is delivering for her electorate.

Ms Brodtmann interjecting—

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