Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I said, we went to the election with a comprehensive housing policy, and I would urge those opposite and the Greens party to listen to what your communities are telling you. They're telling you to back the Housing Australia Future Fund.

Connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have thing in our country, it's an absolute necessity. While they talk a big game for our regional communities, they failed to deliver for our regional communities. That's why it has taken a Labor government to deliver telecommunications and connectivity across the country. There was $2.2 billion in our regional connectivity plan and $2.4 billion for the NBN upgrades. That's 660,000 additional premises that will get fibre to the premises. Those opposite failed to deliver for regional Australia. Isn't it interesting that it takes a Labor government to stick up for regional Australia, say connectivity is important, deliver housing and back our regional communities!

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