My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister explain to the Senate how the National Broadband Network will deliver on health challenges facing our nation, such as an ageing population, a rise in chronic disease and health workforce shortages. And can the minister give an explanation and examples of the possibilities enabled by the national broadband network.

I thank Senator Furner for his ongoing interest in this area. Ubiquitous high-speed broadband, which will be delivered by the National Broadband Network will enable improvements in quality of care, access to services, real-time monitoring of health and illness, innovations in clinical care and health training, and targeted home-based care.

Those down there in the far corner of the chamber used to believe in that. They used to believe in wanting to deliver universal health care, particularly to people in rural and regional Australia. So it continues to be an embarrassment to many National Party members like Mayor Bruce Scott, who today was calling for his small community in Queensland—

Opposition Senator:

Where?

Barcoo Shire. He was continuing to call for fibre to the smallest of communities, completing rejecting those opposite. An Access Economics study found that the steady-state benefits to Australia from wide-scale implementation of telehealth may be in the vicinity of $2 billion to $4 billion per annum. The use of telehealth to keep the elderly and people with chronic illnesses out of hospital and in their homes longer not only has an economic benefit but also improves the quality of life and the speed of convalescence. Remote diagnosis and follow-up care means quality health care is accessible to all Australians regardless of where they live. Those in that corner of the chamber used to believe in that. They will be able to consult specialists from the city— (Time expired)

Mr President, I have a supplementary question for the minister. What is the Gillard government doing to help facilitate the take-up of telehealth?

The government is committed to fundamental reform of Australia’s health system. And a large part of this is taking our use of technology into the 21st century. We will invest $392 million so that from 1 July 2011 patients can get an online consultation with their specialist if they live in rural, remote or outer-metropolitan areas. This will provide around 495,000 services over four years—495,000 services that those opposite should be supporting. Those from the National Party, from regional and rural Australia should be ashamed of yourselves. There will be 495,000 consultations for people who live in your electorates and you want to block it. (Time expired)

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate on any healthcare providers’ views on the impact of the National Broadband Network on healthcare delivery, please?

Mr David Ryan, the Chief Information Officer with the Grampians Rural Health Alliance, said in the Australian Financial Review today, when asked about the impact of the NBN on health care—

Senator Joyce interjecting—

and those in that corner should pay attention particularly to this:

“Most people don’t want to go to hospital, they want to stay in their own homes and convalesce there.”

"If we were to have care of our patients within their own homes via video conference, then the spend on health as a proportion of gross domestic product will fall away.

The opposition should explain why they want to stand in the way of these important improvements to the health system by standing in the way of the National Broadband Network. They are committed to opposition for opposition’s sake. It is an absolutely disgrace and an embarrassment to those opposite—

particularly the National Party members in the far corner. Their constituencies must be up in arms—(Time expired)

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

Just before honourable senators move, I wish to remind you that a resolution of the Senate this morning has put question time from 2 pm to 3 pm tomorrow. I just remind senators of that.