Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Thorp for her question. By June 2021, NBN Co. fibre will be available to 12.2 million Australian homes and businesses. The rollout of the NBN is continuing its ramp-up phase with new premises being added every week. Just last week we switched on the first 2,500 premises in Darwin, as well as additional premises in Aspley and Townsville in Queensland. Construction will be commenced or completed to a total of 4.8 million homes and businesses by June 2016. That includes all of the 200,000 premises in Tasmania, which will be the first state where fibre construction will be completed by the end of 2015. The only threat to the rollout is those opposite, who plan to stop the rollout of NBN Co. fibre. The member for Wentworth has said that he will honour existing contracts, but that will not save the rollout in Tasmania. The Hobart Mercury reported on 5 April that Tasmanians face the prospect of two-speed broadband.The member for Wentworth has been quoted as saying:

… areas still without the national broadband network will be provided with a lower cost version, using existing copper wires between homes and exchanges.

Everybody in Australia should understand that even if you are on a three-year plan like Tasmania, your fibre is not guaranteed. (Time expired)