BENSON: Penny Wong, what harm will be done with the release of this information now in the summarised version of the business plan?
WONG: We have made very sure that we do not release material which we consider to be market sensitive or commercial-in-confidence. What we wanted to do though was to provide the independents in the Parliament, including the cross bench Senators, with sufficient information to demonstrate that this is a project that stacks up. This is a project which is about the infrastructure of the 21st century. This is a project that is an investment in the future.
BENSON: But couldnt you have saved yourself a lot of political pain by releasing this edited version earlier, less reluctantly?
WONG: There are always discussions, negotiations and consultations with the Parliament when you are a minority government, and also when you are a government that has to get the support of the cross benchers to get legislation through the Senate. We are pleased with the constructive way in which Senators have engaged with the Government on this issue. We are pleased that there has been a public indication of support for this project because we think it is absolutely in the national interest that we get on with the job of structurally separating Telstra, of rolling out the National Broadband Network.
BENSON: The Opposition is saying there are some rubbery figures in this summary that has been released. It indicates that the cost of the NBN role out will not be $43 billion as originally expected but $36 billion. Malcolm Turnbull, the opposition spokesperson on communications, says really the number is $49 billion.
WONG: : I think Mr Turnbull has got his figures wrong and is adding apples and oranges there. The cost has dropped significantly since the Implementation Study the Government did. What this information tells us is that we can build the National Broadband Network more cheaply and deliver it to more households. Thats good news for Australians. Its good news for the nation.
BENSON: The roll-out is happening and its a very physical thing. There are some people who arent too happy about the physical aspect of it. The Daily Telegraph in Sydney today is reporting on some residents near Kiama in NSW saying that the nature strip has been torn up, the driveway has been destroyed and nobody is fixing it.
WONG: I havent seen those reports and I am not across the detail of it. But one of the benefits of this, if the legislation does pass the Parliament and of the agreement with Telstra when finalised, is that it does mean the National Broadband Network will have access to existing Telstra infrastructure which obviously reduces the inconvenience and cost of the build.
BENSON: Is there any government guarantee that if they make a mess, they will fix it?
WONG: These operational matters will be dealt with by NBN Co. But I think whats important here is this: this is the roads, rails and ports of the 21st century. This is the investment in infrastructure to drive productivity and innovation. Its a great thing that we see Senators understanding the importance of this project.
BENSON: You are about to go into a Cabinet meeting, I understand, and one of the topics to be discussed is the anti-siphoning laws which rule over what sort of sporting events, big sporting events, go to free-to-air TV and which are going to pay TV. A lot of people are going to be watching the Ashes series start in a few hours. Can you guarantee that there will not be a shift in the big events from free-to-air to pay?
WONG: Obviously, the Government is considering the review into the anti-siphoning scheme and the Government will respond shortly. That is obviously the proper process. In terms of the Ashes, if I have time I also would like to see the first over.
BENSON: Can you guarantee the Ashes will be free-to-air indefinitely?
WONG: I think you are asking me to respond on the review. I think everyone in the Government understands the importance of these issues and Senator Conroy will make clear in due course the Governments views.
BENSON: Can you guarantee the Ashes will be free-to-air indefinitely?
WONG: I think you are asking me to respond on the review. I think everyone in the Government understands the importance of these issues and Senator Conroy will make clear in due course the Governments views.
BENSON: Penny Wong, thank you very much.
WONG: Good to speak with you.
ENDS