Vince Connelly (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak on this motion today. I think all of us in this place would certainly acknowledge the importance of internet connectivity and of keeping up technological change. The degree to which we use our devices—I hope I won't get pinged for using props—the mobile and iPad, certainly makes them essential tools of trade in modern Australia and around the world. It is important that this Morrison government remains focused on keeping pace and providing Australians, at home and in their businesses, with the technology that is needed for modern Australian life.

I do want to turn briefly to the motion itself and an inaccuracy. The motion claims that there is only one business fibre zone in Western Sydney, and I want to point out that that is incorrect. There are in fact 22 business zones across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and these cover an expected 66,353 businesses. NBN Co announced the first 130 business fibre zones on 22 September 2020 and a further 110 zones on 26 October. Indeed, in my own electorate of Stirling, the NBN rollout has been very much welcomed. One hundred per cent of premises are now in areas ready for service, with 99 per cent ready to connect, and overall take-up is now at 75 per cent.

A little on business fibre zones themselves: back in September last year, Minister Fletcher announced $4½ billion for NBN network investment which will give up to 75 per cent of fixed line premises across regional and metropolitan Australia access to faster broadband by 2023. As part of this initiative, NBN Co is investing $700 million over the next three years to provide 90 per cent of all Australian businesses with access to symmetrical business-grade fibre at no upfront cost. NBN will provide CBD-equivalent wholesale enterprise ethernet pricing for around 700,000 businesses located in 240 business fibre zones. This will reduce wholesale pricing by up to 67 per cent for businesses outside major cities. It will include 85 business fibre zones in regional centres and 14 health precincts, with at least one in each state and territory. Transforming the access to and affordability of business-grade fibre and increasing competition and choice is critical to our economic recovery from COVID-19.

This is indeed a game changer for small and medium businesses. It will boost productivity, will foster innovation and will allow for small and medium businesses to embrace opportunities for growth. The enterprise ethernet service that, as I mentioned earlier, will be available in these business zones is NBN's highest-quality business-grade service, providing businesses with a choice of symmetrical speeds from 10 megabits per second to close to one gigabit per second. Businesses located within all 240 business fibre zones are now able to request a fibre upgrade from their retailer. For areas not located within business fibre zones, NBN Co has established a $50 million fund to facilitate the creation of further zones in partnership with local governments and other organisations.

As did the member for Forde, I want to pick up and challenge those opposite for Labor's record on the NBN. Indeed, I have a confession to make: I, as do some others in this place, like to drink beer. I do, however, draw the line—I deliberately restrain myself—at picking up a pen and attempting to nut out complex mathematical equations on the back of a beer coaster. But, unfortunately, that was the approach from those opposite. Ultimately, under their plan, the approach would have cost billions more and taken up to six years longer to complete, leaving millions behind, particularly during coronavirus, when so many of us needed to work from home and, indeed, school our children from home. By contrast, this government has delivered the NBN efficiently and economically when Australians needed it most. Overnight, when we had to adapt the way we lived and worked, this government was there with a strong NBN plan, and this will assist our economic recovery.

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