Hudson Brett: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHudson Brett: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 09 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6437. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister for Communications: What recent announcements has she made on expanding ultra-fast broadband to New Zealanders?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for Communications): Last week I released the request for proposals to expand the ultra-fast broadband network from covering 75 percent of New Zealanders to reaching at least 80 percent of the population. We have made fantastic progress with the first phase of ultra-fast broadband but we are doing more still to get faster broadband to as many people as possible. The Government has committed an extra $210 million from the Future Investment Fund to boost the ultra-fast broadband programme and the request for proposals is a critical step in deciding which communities are next in line to get fibre and who will deliver it.Brett Hudson: How will the towns to get ultra-fast broadband in the expansion programme be selected?Hon AMY ADAMS: The request for proposals included a long list of more than 110 towns and communities around New Zealand in places like Huntly Carterton Hokitika and Kaikohe. The long list was developed to cover the next biggest towns beyond the areas covered by the first phase of ultra-fast broadband and were determined based on Statistics New Zealand’s population projections with reference to council submissions. It is important to note however that not all towns included in the long list are guaranteed to get ultra-fast broadband and there may also be some that are not on the list that may still be included following receipt of the bids from respondents to the request for proposals. Following the receipt of bids from the wholesale fibre providers and councils’ digital enablement plans the final towns will be selected.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Will the Minister commit to Kerikeri and Dargaville being at the front of the UFB2 roll-out in line with statements made by the Prime Minister in Kerikeri during the Northland by-election; if not why on earth not?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Amy Adams either of those two supplementary questions.Hon AMY ADAMS: No for the reasons just set out in my answer. I can tell the member that should he open an office in only one of those places it may make them more attractive—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You cannot have surely hope of there not becoming a state of disorder when a Minister concludes a question like that which was a palpable lie and if she woke up—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. It goes to show the House again the trouble we get into when Ministers take the opportunity to put a political chip in at the end of answers. It leads to disorder as has just been demonstrated by that point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: How does the Minister intend to deliver ultra-fast broadband to the 77 more towns added to the UFB2 when the budget from the Future Investment Fund remains at that projected for 33 towns or $210 million?Hon AMY ADAMS: If the member had listened to my answers he would understand that we have already committed the $210 million to fund the proposal and we have not yet determined what number of towns will be finally selected.Clare Curran: Why did she rush through legislation under urgency in May extending the telecommunications development levy to fund rural broadband when she has now postponed that roll-out meaning rural communities will have to continue to put up with crap internet speeds?Hon AMY ADAMS: Ignoring the fact that that has nothing to do with the substantive question the member is quite simply once again wrong.Ria Bond: Is the Minister aware of Venture Southland’s report on the true state of broadband and the level of dissatisfaction at the Rural Broadband Initiative?Hon AMY ADAMS: Yes I am aware of the report and actually the issues raised in that part of Southland come from a number of causes. But that member will be pleased to know that thanks to the Rural Broadband Initiative and the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative speeds across New Zealand have already tripled and are predicted to double again. So the residents of Southland should be very grateful that at least this Government is addressing it which is something that Labour failed to do.Ria Bond: I seek leave to table Venture Southland’s Registration of Interest report dated July 2015. This is not readily available on the internet.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection?Hon Gerry Brownlee: What is it? We did not hear what it was.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Will the member repeat what it was? It is the Southland—Ria Bond: It is Venture Southland’s Registration of Interest report dated July 2015. It is not readily available on the internet.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular registration of interest. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Ria Bond: I seek leave to table my letter in support of Venture Southland’s Registration of Interest report dated 8 July 2015.Mr SPEAKER: Order! If members really want it they can come and see the member and get a copy. [Interruption] Order! That is using the point of order system simply to make a political point. That is not the purpose of it at all.