Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I congratulate Senator Kroger on her question and for other matters. I am sure Senator Kroger is referring to the issue of the life of fibre. As I have said many times, fibre-optic cable can last for between 30 and 50 years and in recent times newer fibre cable can last even longer. I am sure Senator Kroger will next quote the new member for La Trobe, Ms Smyth, who got, can I say, a little tongue tied. She has clarified her comments today—Senator Kroger may not have been given the update. She has clearly indicated that she was talking about the delays that your party have been pushing to ensure that Australians do not get faster and more affordable broadband.

Yes, to be absolutely clear, fibre-optic cable when laid can last for 30 to 50 years and the more recent fibre deployments can last even longer. But it will not last long enough to outlive what will probably be the opposition’s 50th or 60th failed broadband plan by the time a piece of fibre gets to the end of its life. Let us be clear: the properties of fibre-optic cable are that it moves at the speed of light, unlike HFC, unlike copper and unlike wireless. But those opposite want to condemn the Australian public—they want to condemn the people of Willunga, they want to condemn the people of Brunswick, they want to condemn the people of Tasmania—to a second-rate network while the rest of the country— (Time expired)