Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia) (14:47): Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Mr President, I note the minister's admission yesterday— Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Just wait a minute, Senator Birmingham. Government senators interjecting— Senator BIRMINGHAM: I have plenty of questions here. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Birmingham, I am waiting to give you the call and it does not assist when you are— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Birmingham, ignore the interjections, and, those on my right, cease interjecting. Senator Birmingham, you are entitled to be heard in silence. Senator BIRMINGHAM: Thank you, Mr President. Mr President, I note the minister's admission yesterday that the NBN has only 7,000 active fibre connections. This compares to iiNet's 10,000 fibre connections and Telstra's 40,000 Velocity fibre connections. Mr President, through you, I remind the minister that Labor in 2007 promised that their then version of the NBN would be finished by 2013. After 5½ years, with no chance of it being remotely finished next year, and more than $3½ billion dollars invested in NBN Co., can the minister please explain to the Senate when he expects NBN Co. to at least become Australia's second largest fibre provider?