Joyce Steven: Telecommunications (TSO Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Joyce Steven: Telecommunications (TSO Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:673;Page:19618] 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) 
: 
 Perhaps I can provide some helpful assurances about a few things for Mr Parker in particular although in answer to his question about what we will do about these things I tell him that he could think. Thinking would be a good thing for starters. One of the things he could think about would be the chances of a fibre network having a monopoly position at any time in the next 8½ years. He could contemplate that for a kick-off. He could contemplate the fact that the copper network continues to be regulated notwithstanding I think three quotes from three different speakers from the Opposition trying to suggest that somehow it was not and so on and so on.  
Opposition members are making things up all the way through the discussion. I think it is a bit sad I have to say because rather than actually studying the bill looking at it and looking at what a great deal it is for this country they are just playing ridiculous politics all the way through thrashing around and opposing—which I think will be sadder for them than for anybody else—one of the most exciting investments that New Zealand can make for its future. They are opposing a tremendous deal for consumers and a tremendous deal for taxpayers and a tremendous deal in terms of the cost to the country of getting this built which I think is very exciting for New Zealand.  
I am pleased that both Mr Parker and Mr Mallard are in the Chamber because they could probably have a bit of a powwow about their views on contractual matters for Governments. The other day Mr Mallard declared that contracts would not be safe with a change of Government or words to that effect. [ 
Interruption 
] No he actually said “contracts”. I can quote it back to Mr Mallard if he would like. Then Mr Parker came in yesterday and clarified it. He said that the contracts will be fine. He said that those members do not change contracts and that it is a regulatory matter only. Then Mr Mallard popped back in today and said that no it is a contractual thing again. I recommend that having a team huddle to discuss what the actual position is might be worthwhile. A group huddle might be worthwhile to discuss whether Labour members really will take the view that Government contracts could perhaps be overthrown at any stage as those members are suggesting. That would be new. That would be reasonably new in the history of the New Zealand Parliament.  
I think that is the way Labour members are at the moment. Those members are thrashing around in the swamp like an old crocodile trying to snap at anything and pretend they have an answer when the reality is that they have not even read the bill or Supplementary Order Paper 247. That is clear from all the things that they have raised.  
With regard to the suggestion that copper prices will go up given that we are talking in terms of averaging about 4 percent of the copper-based broadband services that was huge hyperbole from a man not unknown for hyperbole it has to be said. Mr Cunliffe could possibly be said to be called Mr David “Hyperbole” Cunliffe. Once again he was diving in where truth fears to tread getting stuck in making some wild assertions and trying to look knowledgable serious and grave about New Zealand’s future when we all know that he is just playing for political points.  
It is important to point out that we have made some changes to the bill. We were clear all the way along when dealing with the regulatory forbearance matters that if a better solution could be found then we would be happy to take it. In fact the Labour members on the Finance and Expenditure Committee had no solution and the industry proposed a solution that was the same as the regulatory forbearance. But with the support of the Maori Party we were able to come up with a solution that provides additional confidence to consumers over that initial period which was very good. We also were able to do it in such a way that it costs the Crown no more money which is important and again that has been misrepresented by Labour members. With all their misrepresentations one is tempted to say that although we could grant them a few on the basis that they did not understand things a little bit of a pattern is starting to show. I suspect there might be a possible degree of intent in relation to this matter because they want to sabotage a brilliant policy for New Zealand. It really is; I think it is very exciting.  
I think ultra-fast broadband and rural broadband is exciting for this country. I have a huge pile of endorsements from rural communities around the country. We have not talked much today about the rural broadband enabled by this legislation but it is so important for New Zealand. It is exciting and I have to say that it is politically exciting. It is politically exciting because National will have the opportunity at the election to get up and say that Labour opposes ultra-fast broadband it opposes faster broadband for rural areas and it opposes things that give us an economic step change. I am pretty excited about that politically. As well as the scheme being exciting economically for New Zealand I am pretty excited about it politically. The reality is that I cannot wait for that discussion on the campaign trail later this year.