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

I thank the senator for her question and her ongoing interest in the National Broadband Network. Unlike those opposite, the Gillard government are prepared to invest in the future of our country. We are in a situation where we are delivering services to people across Australia, nearly 30,000 as I have said a number of times. We are also delivering programs in the footprints of the National Broadband Network. We have had thousands of Australians who have been through these training programs, individual Australians, to give them the skills they need in the 21st century.

We are running a program for small businesses where they will be trained and get one-on-one training after that. We have had hundreds and hundreds of businesses go through these programs since March when they commenced. Those opposite may like to sign up to some of these programs so they can actually get some education. These programs are vital for Australia to take advantage of the capacity that the National Broadband Network will be providing to people's homes. This is vital for small businesses across Australia who will finally get a level playing field like other businesses in major capital cities. Small businesses across Australia will now get cheap and affordable broadband—