Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister advise the Senate what the government is doing to ensure Australian homes and businesses can make the most of 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 question and her ongoing interest in the National Broadband Network. Unlike those opposite, the Gillard government are prepared to invest in the future of our country. We are in a situation where we are delivering services to people across Australia, nearly 30,000 as I have said a number of times. We are also delivering programs in the footprints of the National Broadband Network. We have had thousands of Australians who have been through these training programs, individual Australians, to give them the skills they need in the 21st century.

We are running a program for small businesses where they will be trained and get one-on-one training after that. We have had hundreds and hundreds of businesses go through these programs since March when they commenced. Those opposite may like to sign up to some of these programs so they can actually get some education. These programs are vital for Australia to take advantage of the capacity that the National Broadband Network will be providing to people's homes. This is vital for small businesses across Australia who will finally get a level playing field like other businesses in major capital cities. Small businesses across Australia will now get cheap and affordable broadband—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about the cost of backhaul out of Tasmania?

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

You would not know what backhaul was if it hit you on the head. You sat there for 11½ years and did nothing to help Tasmanians get broadband. Where was your previous government's backhaul plan? We have built $250 million worth of backhaul across this country. (Time expired)

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. In Tasmania we are already seeing the benefits, but can the minister provide more details of other initiatives and the impact of broadband on businesses?

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

The Gillard government understands the potential of fast, affordable and, most importantly, ubiquitous broadband to transform the way that this country works. Launching Australia's first National Telework Week just last Monday, the Prime Minister committed to a target of 12 per cent of APS employees regularly teleworking by 2020. Telework not only improves productivity and saves infrastructure costs but also increases workforce participation.

Independent research that we released last week found telework can significantly increase participation of people who are not in the labour force through disability, carer responsibilities or location. The research found that this teleworking can enable up to 25,000 equivalent new full-time jobs. (Time expired)

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Further to my first supplementary question, is the minister aware of any alternative plans to prepare Australians for the digital economy?

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

I would like to be able to give a very full answer but, unfortunately, those opposite have no plans for Australia's economic future—none whatsoever. They cannot even agree on their lines. In August last year the member for Wentworth said that under his plan:

… for the foreseeable future the NBN would be Government owned.

But just last week Mr Abbott said:

… not even the Chinese communists believe in a nationalised telecommunications monopoly such as the National Broadband Network!

Who is right: Mr Turnbull or Mr Abbott? They walk around telling the Australian and others: 'We speak all the time. We have to clear each other's lines.' Mr Turnbull has spent all his time accepting the accounting standards for where the NBN is classified. Mr Hockey says it is all a fiddle and a rort. Mr Turnbull has blogged that the accounting for the NBN is correct. (Time expired)