Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

We on this side of the chamber understand that it is not acceptable to continue to have broadband speeds that lag behind our OECD counterparts and our competitors. We understand that it is not acceptable to have broadband that is not acceptable to all of Australia—our regions as well as our cities. Paradoxically, those on the other side seem to be quite happy to accept the status quo when it comes to broadband. That is because they know only one approach when it comes to this reform and any reform, and that is to wreck and block. They are nothing but wreckers.

What is interesting about what Senator Joyce said is that he told the Australian people what the real agenda is here: the political position of the opposition. It is about their perceived political gain. They are not interested in policy. Senator Joyce is not interested in broadband for the regions. He is not interested in that. He is not interested in broadband for regional Australia.