Conroy, Sen Stephen

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (18:20): As I have indicated a number of times, if you ask the same questions over and over again—whether it is you or Senator Macdonald—I will simply make the point that I have already answered them, no matter how many times you try and rephrase them. Having said that, you have actually asked a new question. I am not sure if you have genuinely been misinformed about this or you have not had a chance to keep up with what is actually happening, but I have here in my hands—and I am happy to table it for you—the draft industry guideline, produced by the Communications Alliance Ltd, the industry standard-setting body. It says on the front page: DRAFT INDUSTRY GUIDELINE DR G645:2011 FIBRE READY PIT AND PIPE SPECIFICATION FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Issued: 6 September 2011 Comments close: 29 September 2011 The recognised industry standard setters are drafting this up. Following public comments, they will put it forward as the industry code of practice. So the process which is being gone through is about as consultative as it is possible to be. These are codes being designed by the industry for the industry. We welcome this and we look forward to this being put forward as the industry code of practice. I will table it for you to have a look at. That should answer all of your concerns about a lack of consultation. It is a document put together by the industry experts, for the industry. It is out for public commentary, after much consultation before that. Comments are now being sought before it is put forward as the industry code.