Shane Ross (Independent)

I request a five minute adjournment.

I rose to speak on a serious matter. I congratulate Senator Twomey on raising the issue of broadband and point out to him that No. 13 on the Order Paper is a Bill on broadband in the name of the Independent Senators. I take this opportunity to invite him and other Members of the Opposition to sign that Bill which aims to introduce broadband to every household and small business in the country. I am not making a political point when I say we would welcome Senator Twomey's support for the Bill. I intend to introduce that Bill at an early stage.

I ask the Leader to give time for the Bill. I would like it to be introduced in a non-partisan fashion. I would not necessarily expect the Government to support it, but I would like see the Minister using it as a basis for a Government Bill on broadband. I would not expect the Government, the Opposition or anybody to support it word for word or letter for letter but it might get the ball rolling. I urge the Leader to agree to a discussion on the Bill and perhaps use it as a basis for introducing speedy broadband in this country as soon as possible. There is a crisis in that regard and Senator Twomey has put his finger on it. I know that members of the Labour Party share our view that this is a crisis of infrastructure in this country. I do not think anybody disagrees about the critical nature of the issue. It is a matter of how it can be done, when and at what cost.

I ask Senators Twomey and Hannigan to support the Independent Senator's Bill, with which they should have no difficulty and to amend it, if they so choose, when it comes before the House. I also ask the Leader to give time for the Bill and to make the suggestion to the Minister when he comes to the House to deal with the broadcasting Bill that perhaps it can be adopted as a skeleton for a Government Bill on broadband.