Senate debates

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Questions without Notice

Broadband

2:31 pm

Photo of Doug CameronDoug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister please inform the Senate of any recent announcements that will improve broadband for families and businesses in rural and regional Australia?

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

I thank Senator Cameron for his ongoing interest in this issue. Earlier today the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and I joined with the Prime Minister in announcing that Space Systems/Loral was successful in winning the tender for the delivery of two next generation Ka band satellites and associated tracking, telemetry and control systems, worth approximately $620 million. They will deliver a step change in performance for satellite users both in speed and reliability compared with existing satellite services.

For the first time these satellites will deliver universal broadband coverage across the entire Australian continent. When completed and launched, NBN Co. will be able to offer a 12 megabit per second download and a one megabit per second upload service at uniform national wholesale prices to everybody. Regardless of where you live, all Australians can be assured that they will benefit from the NBN. Everyone will get it.

Using these satellites will allow remote communities to consult medical specialists anywhere in Australia by videoconference. They will allow students in the bush to draw on content-rich, high-bandwidth digital resources from all around the world, while rural small businesses will now more easily expand into markets nationally and internationally. The Gillard government is determined to invest in regional Australia, and deploying the satellites is another example of the government's commitment to equip the bush. (Time expired)

2:33 pm

Photo of Doug CameronDoug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that the Australian govern­ment continues to invest in critical broad­band infrastructure for rural and regional Australia, can the minister advise the Senate of any other programs assisting in the provision of broadband?

2:34 pm

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

On 20 December last year the Acting Prime Minister marked the completion of the Gillard government's $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program by opening the final link in Darwin.

Photo of George BrandisGeorge Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

The Acting Prime Minister? Julia?

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

It was Mr Swan. Despite the unprecedented flooding and cyclones experienced at the beginning of last year, the Darwin fibre-optic backbone link was delivered on budget and with minimal delay in the face of floods and cyclones. The Darwin to Toowoomba fibre-optic backbone link is the fifth link, stretching 3,800 kilometres and passing through more than 30 towns, and it will benefit more than 160,000 people across Queensland and the Northern Territory. The RBBP has now delivered over 6,000 kilometres of fibre backbone. (Time expired)

2:35 pm

Photo of Doug CameronDoug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate what would happen to rural and regional communities if the opposition's broadband plan were implemented?

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

Under the policy of the coalition—that is, the Liberals and the Nationals—there would be no fibre delivered to the 70 per cent—seven-zero per cent—of rural and regional premises that will get it under the Gillard government. And as for accessing the satellites that we have just announced, given that Mr Turnbull has said that he will abolish the cross-subsidy there will be few people left that could afford to buy a satellite service.

But do not worry, Mr President, the member for Wentworth will provide you with a voucher. He will give you a voucher! If you live out there in regional or rural Australia Mr Turnbull will give you a voucher, treating families in this country in regional and rural Australia as second-class citizens. So we now have the country Nationals kowtowing once again to the city based Liberals, resulting in the delivery of an inferior network at a greater cost to all families in regional Australia. (Time expired)