Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ruston for her question. I can indeed update the Senate. But first let me remind colleagues of the miserable and misleading promises that Senator Conroy made when he was minister. In 2010, you will recall, Mr President, Labor claimed that within three years they would get to 1.27 million houses with a fibre-to-the-premises network and 283,000 premises with a fixed wireless network. What happened is they barely reached 16 per cent of that number, which I think most colleagues would agree is pitiful. Instead of taking Labor's approach and making outlandish promises on the back of a napkin—I forget if it was a napkin or a coaster, but I think you get the general idea, Mr President—we have taken the time to get the company rolling out broadband in a predictable and an efficient manner.

I can inform senators that yesterday the company released its national rollout plan for the next 18 months, which shows that we are getting on and getting these upgrades delivered sooner, at less cost to taxpayers and more affordably for consumers, importantly. In the next 18 months, the company will start construction in areas covering an additional 1.9 million premises. This is a credible and realistic path forward. The simple fact of the matter is that, if you do the groundwork, you can deliver the results that Australians need and deserve.