Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister please update the Senate on the importance of actually rolling out the NBN to rural and regional Queensland?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Canavan for his question and acknowledge that this is first question in this place. I very much look forward to his distinguished contribution, particularly in economic and budget policy.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He's a National!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left!

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't mislead the Senate like that!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr!

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He's a Nat!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister, you have the call.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan is of course exactly right: in order to deliver the benefits of fast broadband to rural and regional Australia you actually do need to roll the network out—which as we on this side of the chamber know is a small point, but critical nonetheless, that escaped Senator Conroy's attention. The coalition is getting on with the job of rolling out the NBN and getting it back on track. We are committed to delivering fast broadband sooner at less cost to the taxpayer—and, importantly, more affordably for consumers. We in the coalition agree that all Australians should have access to fast and affordable broadband. Nowhere is this more important than rural and regional Australia, which has historically been poorly served in infrastructure.

Since we took government there has been strong progress in rural and regional Queensland. I can confirm that six fixed-wireless network towers have been activated in the Rockhampton area, covering more than 1,500 homes and businesses. The localities covered by the towers in the region include Alton Downs, Glendale, Gracemere, Kabra, Pink Lilly and The Caves. Around Mackay, four fibre serving area modules have gone live since the election—covering almost 10,000 premises. That is in addition to the 4,000 premises covered by fixed wireless in the Mackay region. Accelerating the fixed-wireless rollout has been a significant focus for NBN Co, and I am pleased to say to Senator Conroy that this is what building the NBN looks like. (Time expired)

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Can the minister advise how the acceleration of the NBN rollout is resulting in more rural and regional Australians taking up an NBN service?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Canavan. I can inform the Senate that the government is aware that, for rural and regional Australia to harness the benefits of fast broadband, people do need to take up the NBN service. The government knows that, without driving take-up, you do not earn revenue—another revelation for Senator Conroy. Under the coalition, as the NBN Co has ramped up the rollout of fixed-wireless services, we have also seen an increase in the number of subscribers. There were fewer than 3,000 in last September and there are now more than 16½ thousand today. In a little over nine months we have more than quadrupled the number of Australians in rural and regional areas subscribing to an NBN fixed-wireless service. We have always been in favour of an NBN but an NBN that exists in reality, is affordable and is there to deliver to rural and regional Australia.

Senator Lines interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Lines! It is question time and we need quiet.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister also advise the Senate how the government will continue its ramp up of the fixed wireless network?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are absolutely committed to continuing the ramp up of the NBN across all technology platforms, including fixed wireless. I can confirm that, as of 30 June, there were 294 fixed wireless towers under construction covering approximately 65,000 premises and many more are planned, and there were 112,000 premises already covered. This will deliver a great service to rural and regional Australia. Rural and regional Australia know that it has taken the coalition to deliver this. The great lie perpetrated by those opposite is that there was a debate as to whether you are for the NBN or against the NBN. That was never true. We have always been for the NBN but we have been for a real NBN, one that exists, is affordable and one which delivers.

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

What sort of NBN are you turning on?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you are turning us off.