Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. The CEPU says it is mustering resources to unionise the workforce rolling out the NBN and to get good wages and conditions for NBN workers. Has a significant increase in wages been factored into the spend of $43 billion on the National Broadband Network?

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

I thank the senator for her ongoing interest in this issue. I am aware Mr Quigley appeared—and you may even have been present—when there were a number of discussions around the enterprise bargaining agreements that have now been signed and agreed to between the workforce and NBN Co. There are agreements in place based on all the normal principles. I am a little confused when you talk about a blow-out. There is an EBA in place; it covers all of those things. There are no individual contracts for the workforce.

Overall, I believe that the answer will be no, there is no blow-out in wages costs because we have an agreed set of EBA principles. They have now been signed and agreed by the ACTU, coordinating right through with the CEPU and a range of other unions that have been involved in these discussions, and I have been kept reasonably abreast of the issues as they have evolved. These were handled at arm’s length. They have been signed off and agreed and there is no suggestion at all that there would be a wages blow-out. I think that it is a fantasy of those opposite who simply hope that these things will happen, because they just cannot understand why those residents in Willunga are going to get access to fibre optics. I picked Willunga, Mr President, because the good senator who asked the question is from South Australia, and the 84 per cent of people in a small country town like Willunga who want fibre optics. (Time expired)

Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Notwithstanding that trite reassurance, Minister, the industry warns that the NBN rollout will add to construction costs, forecasting that a one per cent rise in construction costs will add $1.4 billion to the bill to build the NBN. Coupled with acute shortages of skilled workers particularly in the government’s priority areas, what extra costs need to be added to the NBN total bill? (Time expired)

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

I thank you for that question. That is a very old front-page headline in the Australian you are drawing from there, Senator, and I would put to you that it is inaccurate in every sense. We have an EBA in place.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz interjecting—

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

It is a very old edition, Senator Abetz. The information I have been given—

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Boyce interjecting—

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

Sorry—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, ignore the interjection. Just address the chair.

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

It sort of pierced an eardrum, Mr President. The costs from the EBA are in place. Yes, there is a very competitive labour market evolving in Australia. It is not yet quite back to the levels of the GFC, but going in that general direction. The NBN Company are very conscious of this. They have been engaged in discussions with the local industry about provision of services. They are aware of that. The government is conscious of wanting to ensure that we have enough technicians. (Time expired)

Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. All right then. Given that the push for good wages and conditions is exacerbated by skill shortages particularly in regional areas, will the minister repeat the government’s promise that there will be no blow-out in the $43 billion cost to build the National Broadband Network?

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

The excitement of those opposite while they are waiting for the release of the NBN business case is understandable. It is a very, very worthwhile read, the NBN Co. business case. Once again it confirms that the NBN project is financially viable and will deliver cheap and affordable broadband to towns like Willunga. It will be one of the most historic builds of an infrastructure project in this country. The government is committed to ensuring that there is a well-trained and accredited workforce. That is why we are putting forward $100 million as part of a package to retrain technicians, who have their primary experience in copper networks, into the future fibre based networks. We are putting $100 million on the table to ensure that we do not have to waste all that experience and expertise. (Time expired)