Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Van for the question and for his enduring interest in the connectivity and connection of all Australians to the NBN. I am extraordinarily pleased to confirm that NBN Co will establish an additional 44 business fibre zones, providing access to ultrafast business-grade broadband at reduced prices for an additional 60,000 businesses in Australia. Following this announcement, NBN Co will have a network of 284 business fibre zones nationally. That will cover—

Senator O'Neill interjecting—

I will happily take the interjection. This government will not be lectured to by those opposite on the NBN. This government delivered the NBN efficiently and economically when Australians needed it the most. In fact, today there are over 11.97 million premises ready to connect, 99 per cent of Australian premises can now order an NBN service, more than 8.2 million premises have already connected to the NBN, and 75 per cent of homes and businesses are on 50 megabits, or higher, plans. In fact, following this announcement, NBN Co will have a network of 284 business fibre zones nationally, covering over 850,000 businesses. As well as extending the business fibre zones footprint, NBN Co is further discounting its already competitive wholesale prices for business-grade broadband in order to support more business access to dedicated business-grade fibre services. New and existing businesses within business fibre zones will benefit from further wholesale pricing reductions of up to 37 per cent and, for a business already in an NBN Co business fibre zone, this morning's announcement means savings of as much as $1,800 every year. Businesses within those business fibre zones will benefit from access to NBN Co's premium business-grade product, Enterprise Ethernet, at no up-front cost, as well as CBD-equivalent pricing, irrespective of where the business is located.