Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I refer again to the cost of borrowing as the first factor that will increase it. Between now and 2021 at six per cent we are looking at nearly $18 billion added to the cost. At seven per cent, a mere one per cent more, we are up over $20 billion. That is the cost of borrowing. The second concern I have would be the likely industrial conditions. The other side could not answer a question in question time yesterday as to what is going to be the blow-out effect over the time. The third—and I will come to it in a moment with regard to Tasmania—is the take-up rate. The fourth, of course, will be, if they are allowed, any competing technologies. If we think of the advances in technology over the past eight years ago—2002 to 2010—and if we project that forward another eight years, heaven forbid, where do we think we will be with internet connectivity and various IT activities? This is tying this country up. It is locking us into aged and already outdated technology. By 2018 we have got no idea where it will be.

Therefore, what are the risks? The risks of this project are incredible. As has been said, only now do we see, Senator Ludlam, that NBN Co. is seeking a risk oversight, risk management and internal control process. Back in March of this year in this place when I spoke to this issue I spoke about the need to develop a business plan before you get started—where you have a cost-benefit analysis, where you do a risk management plan, where you do a SWOT analysis and when you look at likely competition. It was ignored. It was ignored by this arrogant minister, who does not even have the decency to be in this place to respond to his lousy legislation—legislation he has not even read, explanatory memorandum which he does not understand.

That allows me to come to Senator Conroy, but before I do I hope my Greens and Labor colleagues from Western Australia take careful note of this. If you address yourselves to page 7 of this lamentable document you will see that it involves only towns with more than a thousand people. Senator Evans, if he were here, Senator Sterle, Senator Bishop, my two Greens colleagues and I know that more than 80 per cent of towns in Western Australia will be denied access. Research from the Parliamentary Library tells me that 80 per cent of Western Australian towns have fewer than a thousand people.