Senator BILYK (3:07 PM) —Senator Humphries, with regard to your comment about the minister being determined to make this happen, I just say that he is determined to make it happen and I think it is appropriate that he is determined to make the NBN happen. It is what Australians want.

Senator Barnett —At what cost?

Senator BILYK —I did not actually hear the interjection, but Senator Barnett interjects. If Senator Barnett had been a bit more online with his state colleagues in Tasmania he would have realised that it was an important issue to voters in the federal election and maybe the Liberal Party would not have lost a senator but gained someone in the House of Representatives instead of ending up with the absolutely abysmal outcome that they ended up with. We are running the pilot in Tasmania, and it is important that this pilot is being run in Tasmania—where Tasmanians want it. The other side did nothing and I think it to cost them dearly in Tasmania in the federal election.

This is a 40-year investment. The other side did nothing for 12 years. In fact, over the past 14 years, how many plans have they had? There were 18 in the 12 years they were in government and now we are up to 20. Those on that side have had 20 plans as to what they would do with regard to the NBN. They have no concept of keeping up with the technological age. The NBN is key to Australians having fast and effective communications. As I said, we are committed and determined to make it happen. The rollout of fibre-to-the-premise will deliver speeds of up to 100 megabytes—50 times faster than most people experience today. Just imagine what that could do in the areas of education and health and in everybody’s life. But, no, they are opposing this process because that is what they do on that side: they just oppose for opposition’s sake. Even though it is the second time they are in opposition, they have not quite got the hang of the fact that they are in opposition. Some of them are still trying to come to grips with that. The majority of people on that side just stand up and say no, no, no. They are the party of the nos. It is completely disingenuous for them to behave like that.

What they also try to do is distort the costings that we have. Their alleged costings are based on a 40-year project. This is a long-term project. Members of their own side have said that it is a long-term project. Even with their costings it works out to be 13c a day per household, which I do not think many Australians have too many problems with. I know that not too many Tasmanians do. I have not had anyone in Tasmania complain to me or my office about it. As I said, if Senator Barnett and the opposition had really known what the people wanted, especially in Tasmania, they would have been supporting this program and backing it. It has cost them dearly.

Senator Humphries —Especially in Denison.

Senator BILYK —I am happy to take that interjection because in Denison the Liberal vote went down. I would not be worrying too much about Denison, where their vote went down.

Senator Abetz —The Senate team did very well in Denison.

Senator BILYK —In fact, all our people did well in Tasmania, Senator Abetz. They put in a tremendous effort and they are backing this project. They know it is good for Tasmania, they know it is good for the people, they know it is good for business and they know it is good for e-health. We will continue to make sure that we let people in Tasmania know that your side are not backing it, even though, as I said at the beginning of my contribution today, your Liberal colleagues in Tasmania are. So I presume there is a bit of a divide there, and that in itself will be interesting to watch.

Senator Sterle —Someone’s not listening.

Senator BILYK —So who is not listening? That is right, Senator Sterle. I wonder who is not listening. I think the state Liberal Party have been listening, but the federal Liberal Party in Tasmania just think they know it all. They do not mind what is good for the people of Tasmania. (Time expired)