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

Yes—and hospitals to high-speed broadband. This will underpin and enable Australia’s digital economy. Taking advantage of digital economy opportunities will help Australia tackle major public policy challenges such as better managing our environment, energy and infrastructure. Ubiquitous high-speed broadband will facilitate greater teleworking opportunities and reduce the need for business travel through the greater use of telepresence technology, which will reduce carbon emissions.

Smart grid technology has the potential to reduce home energy bills and cut carbon pollution. Smart grids enable a two-way flow of information over a communications network that will provide a greater ability to incorporate renewable energy and allow consumers to manage their energy use. Early estimates show that, if smart grid applications are adopted around Australia, they could deliver an estimated reduction of 3.5 megatonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

The NBN will help Australia lead a global transformation as energy networks deploy broadband-enabled solutions to drive efficiency and the capacity— (Time expired)