Senator BILYK (2:51 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Senator Sherry. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the National Broadband Network will benefit—

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —I understand people are a little bit excited today—

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —but if we can just curtail the excitement, Senator Colbeck, for a little while, we can end up getting through question time.

Senator BILYK —As I was saying, can the minister outline to the Senate how the National Broadband Network will benefit small businesses, particularly those in regional and rural Australia? What is the potential of the small-business community—particularly in regional areas—to find new, innovative ways of doing business more efficiently and effectively by using the NBN?

Senator SHERRY (Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) —I thank my colleague from Tasmania. There was a wild cheer that went up from the opposition benches when the question was posed. It reminds me—

Senator Abetz —It wasn’t for you, Nick.

Senator SHERRY —No it was certainly not for me, but it was reflective of the attitude of business in Tasmania to the NBN, because there is no doubt, if you look at the results from the federal election, that a large part of the reason for the relative success of Labor vis-a-vis the Liberal Party in Tasmania was business support for the NBN. The National Party does not exist in Tasmania, but that is another quite long and diverting story I could get to at another time. There is no doubt that the NBN is critical for—

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Sherry, address the chair. Ignore the interjections.

Senator SHERRY —I am trying to. The NBN is vital for small business, and nowhere is this more true than in regional Australia because it reduces the barriers put up by the tyranny of distance that business, particularly in regional Australia, has to overcome. Regional businesses can adopt teleworking. They can attract new customers using content-rich websites. They can use web conferencing. It allows small business to access online services, including staff training, the latest news, research and account payment. So it has a vast range of applications which overcome the tyranny of distance. The government is prioritising the rollout of the NBN in regional Australia.

I notice Senator Joyce is not paying any attention. It is typical of the National Party. The rollout of the NBN in regional Australia, particularly in a state like my own, Tasmania, helps small business to unlock new opportunities, to compete in overseas markets—(Time expired)

Senator BILYK —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for that answer. Can the minister also inform the Senate of how the government is helping small business owners go online and engage in the digital economy?

Senator SHERRY (Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) —Thank you, and, yes, I will, but I just want to refer to an article written by the chief executive of the Council of Small Business of Australia, Mr Peter Strong. He said that internet sales had increased 18 per cent in the past year.

Senator Ian Macdonald —It was before NBN had even started.

Senator SHERRY —I want to give another example of the benefits to business from embracing the internet. This is the potential, the power, Senator Macdonald, of the NBN, the power of the internet, which you simply do not appreciate and understand. This is the power of the internet and the power of the NBN in overcoming these disadvantages that business and small business, particularly in regional Australia, are faced with.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Senator SHERRY —Senator Macdonald—through you, Mr President—should go and have a look at the website for Shoes of Prey. I do not mind giving a free ad to this company. They have been promoting, over YouTube, their business. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —When we have some silence we will proceed.

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Senator Abetz interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Having these discussions across the chamber does not assist the conduct of question time.

Senator BILYK —Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware of any alternative policies to the Gillard government’s world-leading NBN? Do these alternative policies pose risks to Australia’s long-term prosperity?

Senator SHERRY (Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) —The alternative policy presented by the Liberal-National Party—dare I say it, the doormats down there—

Senator Abetz —Are you referring to the Greens?

Senator SHERRY —I do not want to be too provocative, but the doormats down there, in particular, claim to represent regional Australia—

Senator Abetz —You’re the doormats to them.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Sherry, ignore the interjections.

Senator SHERRY —I was not referring to the Greens, Senator Abetz; I was referring to the National Party. You would think that the National Party could recognise the advantages that the NBN and the internet provide for business, particularly small business, in regional Australia. But the approach of the opposition, the Liberal-National party, can be summed up as just wrecking and opposing. They had almost 12 long years in government. I think they had 11 plans, Senator Conroy; I think it was 11 or 12 plans in 12 years.

An honourable senator interjecting—18!

Senator SHERRY —Eighteen! Sorry—18; I stand corrected. In almost 12 years, they failed to deliver the NBN, and they have nothing to deliver now. (Time expired)