Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:11): The government has said from the very outset that ICT is one of those great enabling technologies for the 21st century. Together with the National Broadband Network, this government's innovation agenda will be the backbone of our new knowledge economy. We are about building the future of manufacturing through innovation. Today more than ever, manufacturers need high-speed broadband to cut their costs, to boost their supply chains and to find new markets at home and abroad. That includes manufacturers clustered in regional areas. Without the NBN many will never know the benefits of a website, let alone the incredible tools that we are seeing emerge from our universities today. Australia has the research strengths to make ICT— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: If those on my left wish to debate the issue, the time is post question time. You are well aware of that. All we are doing is wasting the time of question time by interjections that are disorderly. Senator CARR: a really strong competitive edge for this country. What the government is about is ensuring that we spread those benefits to every single enterprise in this country.