Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Ministers statements: Connecting Victoria

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:23): It is my pleasure to update the Parliament today on how we are improving connectivity to businesses in places across Victoria so that they can log on and participate more fully in the digital economy. In August 2021 I announced that up to 10 000 Victorian businesses across 12 locations would receive business fibre zone upgrades, allowing them to access faster and more reliable fibre internet through the enterprise ethernet services. These locations were Hamilton, Portland, Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Warragul, Colac, Benalla, Dromana, Pakenham North, Pakenham South, Lara and Cranbourne South. I was pleased to add a further five locations to this list as part of our most recent Connecting Victoria broadband announcements. The new fibre zones will be in Alfredton, Buninyong, Loch Sport, Rockbank, Mount Cottrell and Tarneit. This will mean a further 2100 businesses will benefit from CBD pricing and CBD speeds for their business internet connections.

This is great news for businesses in my electorate, and I know that Buninyong local member Michaela Settle has been a particularly effective and vigorous advocate for improved connectivity for businesses in her electorate. Work is already underway to setting up these zones, with businesses being able to contact NBN Co and start the process of signing up from April. NBN will not charge installation or connection fees for business-grade broadband, thanks to our government’s investment. Businesses only need to pay for their internet plan.

With improved internet, businesses can expand their markets by doing business online and use online tools to learn new skills, as well as having more flexibility in the way they work. We are helping to provide the infrastructure that our businesses need to truly excel in a digital economy. Better connectivity in Victoria is critical in creating more opportunities for jobs, stronger small and family businesses and keeping people connected.