Watch: Angry Labor shouts down Fifield in Senate over NBN leaks

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news An outraged Opposition shouted down Mitch Fifield in Senate Question Time today over the latest set of National Broadband Network leaked documents, accusing the Communications Minister of not knowing that the Coalition’s election costing on the NBN was a “lie”.

This morning the Opposition distributed a set of documents which appear to have been produced by the NBN company in August last year, entitled CTO Briefing: Multi-Technology Local Fibre Network. You can download the documents in PDF format here.

According to the documents, the NBN company in mid-2015 came up with a secret plan to dramatically reduce the cost and inconvenience of deploying fibre all the way to customers’ premises. The plan appears to have pushed the costs of a Fibre to the Premises rollout for the NBN significantly closer to the cost of rolling out the Coalition’s preferred Fibre to the Node technology.

Today in Senate Question Time, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield was asked about the documents by NBN Senate Select Committee chair, Labor Senator Jan McLucas.

In response, Fifield firstly said that the Opposition and “members of the press gallery” who had received the documents were “hyperventilating”.

The Minister then attempted to revisit earlier comments he had made regarding the documents, attempting to tell the Senate that the NBN company had estimated a cost of $4,400 per premise for rolling out a Fibre to the Premises version of the NBN; that the lower cost trials were already publicly known, and that the cost of individual FTTP installations could, in fact, range into the tens of thousands of dollars, due to the level of civil works involved.

However, Fifield’s response was constantly broken up by a regular set of interjections from the Opposition, particularly former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, the author of the original NBN policy for Labor.

“Did he not tell you he was lying … you didn’t know, did you?” Conroy asked Fifield, appearing to refer to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who led development of the Coalition’s rival NBN policy in his role as Shadow- and then Communications Minister in the Abbott administration.

“You just found out … Malcolm tells lies,” said Conroy.

In response to Fifield’s statement that the cost-cutting plan outlined in the leaked documents was public knowledge, Conroy interjected that the trials in Victoria of the revised technology were “secret”.

“Why are you hiding the outcomes?” Conroy asked.

“You won’t be able to get them to keep on telling lies for you much longer,” Conroy added, appearing to refer to the NBN company.

“They won’t keep lying for you much longer.”

At one point, Senate President Stephen Parry attempted to restore order to the Senate, and Conroy accused Attorney-General and Leader of the Government in the Senate George Brandis of having signalled Parry — a Liberal Senator — to make his move.

At one point, Fifield reiterated his prior statement earlier today that the NBN leaked documents actually referred to a trial of new technology which could cut costs on the Fibre to the Node technology.

Labor Senator Doug Cameron interjected: “Which New Zealand got rid of!”, referring to the country’s own rollout of broadband infrastructure. New Zealand originally used a fibre to the node rollout for its own Ultra-Fast Broadband strategy, but has since shifted to a FTTP model similar to Labor’s original strategy.

At the end of the debate, McLucas finally asked the question: “Isn’t it true that only Labor’s FTTP NBN will deliver faster, higher quality and more reliable broadband to Australians.”

Fifield responded with a single word: “No,” and sat down.

opinion/analysis
I had to feel sorry for Communications Minister Mitch Fifield during this afternoon’s exchange.

Fifield, after all, was never the author of the MTM NBN policy — he’s just holding the fort here for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. And it’s also true that Labor has gone quite … what I can only describe as “feral” in Federal Parliament this week. The Liberal/Greens deal on Senate voting reform has angered Labor deeply, and the party is reacting with vitriol to absolutely anything vaguely objectionable as a result.

Some of the interjections towards Fifield this afternoon was no doubt a reflection of this wider situation.

However, it’s also true that Fifield is not currently proving able to keep a lid on the NBN situation. Turnbull placed Fifield in this role as Communications Minister to shore up what is a very weak point for the Member for Wentworth.

Although Fifield has been doing an admirable job — he is a very competent Minister and parliamentarian — it is nevertheless true that events are also spiralling out of control and he is not stemming the tide.

We are seeing damaging leak after damaging leak out of the NBN company at the moment, and Fifield’s denials, square statements and pro-MTM talking points are starting to wear extremely thin in the face of the overwhelming amount of evidence that is emerging from the NBN company that the MTM policy is just, as the whole of Australia is aware, a dog.

This is likely to prove something of a quandary for Turnbull.

If the unflappable, extremely stable and competent Fifield can’t keep a lid on this fraught situation, then nobody in the Parliament can. And yet, Turnbull cannot back away from the flawed MTM NBN policy either.

There are no easy answers here.

The right answer, of course, is for Turnbull to admit to the public that he was wrong about the NBN and find a way — perhaps through allowing the NBN company to utilise its cheaper construction methods to pursue FTTP — to shift the NBN closer to its original policy.

But that will never happen.

Turnbull is too deeply committed to the MTM, and there are also the extensive agreements with Telstra and Optus to take account of. The only thing Turnbull — and Fifield — can do is attempt to brave it out and hope the leaks stop and that NBN Co shortly comes up with some more MTM wins.

It’s not a good look — in fact, it’s a terrible look — but from their perspective it’s likely the only real option they have. Such is the price of bad policy — it comes back to bite you again, and again, and again.

85 COMMENTS

  1. Hey Renai! Were you hyperventilating and have sweaty palms?
    Or were you just as disgusted and pissed off by Sen Fifield’s puerile, condescending and vaguely insulting comments as I was?

    • Oh and I agree with the general premise of your opinion/analysis.

      (Qualification …. Sen Fifield is a ‘good parliamentarian’ in that he can waffle and spin in what has become an acceptable, even lauded manner. The real question is are these the qualities that should be admired in our elected representatives?)

      • You can wipe that smug off his face if we all vote Labor in the coming election and get back your FTTH.

          • 20% is the price you pay for voting the Libs in, in the first place, and by voting the 2 major parties last where will that get you, it certainly won’t resurrect FTTH for the remaining FTTN.

          • The Greens are one party who have stated they are more likely to overbuild with FTTP.

            Also, why vote for parties that are known to be incompetent and/or evil? Way to sink the country into the ground.

    • “Were you hyperventilating and have sweaty palms?”

      My thoughts when I heard that were that anytime a politician complains about my writing, I am probably doing my job well ;)

  2. [quote]
    At the end of the debate, McLucas finally asked the question: “Isn’t it true that only Labor’s FTTP NBN will deliver faster, higher quality and more reliable broadband to Australians.”

    Fifield responded with a single word: “No,” and sat down.
    [/quote]

    I think Fifield will want to be careful saying things like that, had he worded his answer differently it may have worked out better for him, but the facts do still remain that FTTN can never match what McLucas asked in that question.

  3. Although Fifield has been doing an admirable job? Come on Renai, you are going blue in the Face..

    • I think Renai means he’s a politician’s politician the guy has rarely slipped with saying anything directly incontrovertible, most of the time he’s muddling the waters/figures and making it sound like its all copacetic in MTM world!

      Everyone has to know why he got said portfolio after all as its cover the PM’s butt time etc prior to the election after all.

  4. “I had to feel sorry to Communications Minister Mitch Fifield during this afternoon’s exchange.”

    He gets a fat cushy ministerial position/salary and perks and all he has to do is play politics with it until the election. Pretty well no-one can blame him directly for it as long as he ditches it post election as he’s just a ‘caretaker’ and basically been handed a gilded bucket of poop.

    That he has to ‘work’ for his dinner is such a shame :/!

  5. The volume level from the Opposition against MTM has really ramped up lately as they’ve started posturing for an election campaign. I’ll be very interested to see just how aggressive Labor’s comms policy will be when it’s campaign time proper.

    I had figured that with the big telstra/optus deal overhaul that it was going to be a political impossibility for Labor to pitch switching back to the full 98% fibre plan should they win the next election, but the closing price gap between FTTN and FTTP seems like a potential game changer.

    The sudden burst of actual aggressive vocal opposition to the goverment’s MTM commentary leads me to suspect that Conroy and co have the idea that in light of recent developments (FTTP cost savings, and FTTN/HFC fails/blowouts) it’s now economically viable for them to take a full FTTP policy to the next election.

    Rennai: I recall you suggesting it wasn’t politically likely a year or so ago, but given the recent new data points, a new article on the potential/viability of switching back to full fibre would probably be of interest to a lot of readers.

      • yup I believe MT has been signing 6 year deals (10 with Foxtel and HFC) instead of say normal industry practice of 2 (maybe 3).

  6. Renai, I deeply respect your coverage. But he’s busy blowing tens of billions of dollars of OUR money on rubbish. The most CHARITABLE explanation is that he is massively ignorant and incompetent. I feel not an ounce of pity as he trashes his reputation on behalf of Malcolm

    • And clearly the libs are lying their assess off about pretty much everything right now!

    • There is a difference between competence and policy.

      Someone can do a competent job of implementing/defending a bad policy, which is what Fifield is doing.

      You can acknowledge that the policy is a dog, while still also acknowledging that Fifield is a solid performer as a politician. The two are not mutually dependent.

      Also, I would point out that the policy is not Fifield’s choice.

      I am sure many of you have had to do things at work which you personally thought were bullshit or were actually verifiably bullshit.

      Yet you still did them.

      We’ll likely not know for many years whether Fifield actually thinks MTM is a good policy or not. In political circles, this is actually a signal that Fifield is, as I have said, a solid performer.

      • There are lots of things Cardinal Pell thought or didn’t think. That didn’t make them right. Call me old fashioned, but doesn’t truth and accuracy count any more, especially in public life?

        The House on the Hill is resourced at great public expense. The nation’s school kids are taken there because it is important they understand its and their future role in the whole business.

        What is the point of having such a costlyd place in which much of what is discussed there is fantasy? And when dispassionate analysis on our websites can show it to be so.

      • Renai – I see it this way: if you’re a competent driver and someone tells you to drive over a cliff, and you do, you’re not a competent driver

      • I usually agree with your assessment Renai, but not here. There is absolutely no way anyone outside of politics could be said to be a “solid performer” or doing a good job when they are continually lying and promoting a policy which wastes tens of billions of dollars.
        Sure, people outside politics may sometimes be asked to do things that are a bad idea. But outside parliament the “solid performers” are the people who find a way to fix things, not those who actively perpetuate bad policy.

        It’s not supposed to be this way. Lying, and implementing a policy that is not in the public interest, is a direct breach of the ministerial oath. It is only considered acceptable because the standard in parliament is so low.

        Just how high up in the government does someone need to get before doing a good job means doing something that is actually good ?

        Save us from “solid performers”.

      • Renai, there’s a difference between being asked to do things we don’t like and voluntarily lying on public record when there facts clearly prove you are lying.

      • (I am sure many of you have had to do things at work which you personally thought were bullshit or were actually verifiably bullshit.)

        Sure Renai we have all had to do that but NEVER to the point of fucking my country over.

      • “You can acknowledge that the policy is a dog, while still also acknowledging that Fifield is a solid performer as a politician.”

        Quite true, but doesn’t it feel a little like saying that Hitler did a great job digging Germany out of its recession? While true, it has a fairly strong amoral aftertaste.

      • I feel like I understand your statements more than most of the people responding, but at the end of the day it is simply unacceptable that the standard of parliament involves Ministers working for the PM, rather than the population.

      • I agree 100% about Mitch, Renai, he plies his craft well (much better than ScoMo or any of the other duds).

        Please keep hammering them on their crap policy though ;o)

      • I’d liken it to this maybe Renai:

        I can’t stand Frank Spencer (from “Some mothers do have them”), but I like and respect Michael Crawford and the skill he used when he played the character.

  7. the MTM policy is just, as the whole of Australia is aware, a dog.

    Being a bit unfair to dog’s here Renai!

    Imo, a better description would be “a load of fetid dingoes kidneys”!

  8. Pride, saving face and dammed politics seems to be hindering actual progress here. As Renai mentioned, it would be best for turnbull to just admit they were wrong re FTTN. The problem is, it will damage his credibility – and this is something labor will not let go, they will crucify him.

    I noted that Fifield stated that the Mixed Technology Local Fiber Network (MT LFN) technology leaked was a form of FTTN. From reading the document, this seems to be partially correct, in that it supports connecting FTTdp and FTTN capability (as well as FTTP), while enabling a much easier upgrade path to FTTP from FTT(N/dp) without requiring major civil works all the way to the exchange (at least from my understanding).

    So this is probably how the coalition will tackle it. That MT LFN is part of their MTM and was always part of their plan – to be technologically agnostic (MT LFN even uses mixed technology in its name – i wonder if that was an intentional addition?). The coalition will just claim labor are nuts and just up to their usual antics – everything is fine, move along, nothing to see here. As fifield stated in the video, labor’s plan is “fiber at any cost”.

    If this means that FTTdp becomes significantly more viable and becomes the preferred technology instead of FTTN (the coalition will probably still claim FTTdp is still a form of FTTN), then i think this is good. Those who want FTTP probably wont have to pay anywhere near as much (as recent data shows its potentially up to $10k) to get it connected.

    • What I can potentially see happening is that LNP remind us that nbnco are tasked with rolling out fast broadband to Australia, and the government are not dictating the technology to be used**.
      This is a spectacular backpedal by the LNP, but technically works as a deflection from the leaked documents.

      **yes there’s no need to explain this, I’ve been following the LNP shenanigans for a long time too.

  9. “Fifield responded with a single word: ‘No,’ and sat down.”

    When does the hanging offence of “misleading the House” kick in?

  10. Conroys interjections are very funny. Turnbull has handed Fifield a sack of s… which will destroy Fifields reputation, and Fifield is probably just waking up to that. Aint Mal a sweetie?

  11. RichardU 03/03/2016 at 6:45 pm

    “Fifield responded with a single word: ‘No,’ and sat down.”
    where does the word honorable member come in for this clown?.its a bloody joke.

          • With comments like those from Fiefield probably just as well they won’t let you take food even. Even if you didn’t throw them at him there’s still the risk you may throw up at some of the obvious lies.

      • As you can see, I usually sit about 3 metres from Fifield ;)

        Perched up there like an eagle…I wonder if that makes Mitch feel uncomfortable at times :o)

    • (As you can see, I usually sit about 3 metres from Fifield ;)

      I hope your up wind. Renai I wouldn’t sit that close to the government you will get covered in bullshit.

      • Actually four is a record high number for the Senate.

        During Question Time (2-3pm every day), dozens of journalists sit in the House of Reps press gallery to watch proceedings. But only a couple ever go to the Senate.

        I sit in the Senate press gallery during many Question Times, because I personally am more interested in the Senate, because the Communications Minister and Conroy are there, and because I want the politicians to remember that they are being watched at all times.

        I will also go and sit in the press gallery of either house when there are tech-related issues being debated. I sat in the House of Reps press gallery for about 2-3 hours during a NBN debate this week.

        It is very important that the politicians know they are being watched. Even being watched by one single journalist changes their behaviour observably. They are very conscious of it. They feel quite a bit more pressured if a journalist is watching them speak live — they feel that the debate they are in is much more important than they would otherwise feel.

        • During Question Time (2-3pm every day), dozens of journalists sit in the House of Reps press gallery to watch proceedings. But only a couple ever go to the Senate.

          Bit sad really (for the MSM guys), I’d think the Senate would be a lot more interesting, and most stuff in the lower house is basically a “done deal” with the numbers.

          • They get to ask two extra questions after the first one, for each senator. No wonder people don’t go in and watch it live.

      • I guess the MSM don’t need to show up and actually work for a living like independant media do, MSM just “report” the PR/Release/Leak drops they get ;o)

        MSM = Main Stream Media

  12. “only Labors FTTP NBN can deliver”

    WHAT A LIAR that Labor senator is!

    EVEN LABOR says they WILL NOT GO BACK TO 93% FTTP and that QUOTE “ANY NEW FIBRE WILL BE LIMITED” according to Labor Shadow Communciations Minister Jason Clare!!!!!!

    She is making out like they will go back to it when they won’t!!!! and CAN’T!

    We all know that Bill Shorten is not going to be the next prime minister. He already backstabbed Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.

    There’s no way these clowns can win the next election.

    Labor is just appealing to the FTTP voter base, and then when they get elected even they said the first year will be nothing but waiting for reviews and the rest of the time of their first term would be continuing with the current NBN plan.

    Those Labor voters are going to be pissed when they released they’ve been lied to not once, but twice when Labor gets back and fails to deliver yet again.

    • Tell us again why you oppose FttP…?

      Oh you just did and it has nothing to do with FttP.

      I rest my case with yet another.

      *sigh*

    • If you read the whole thing

      “Isn’t it true that only Labor’s FTTP NBN will deliver faster, higher quality and more reliable broadband to Australians.”

      As the MTM doesn’t even do the min 25Mbps that was claimed before the election.

    • “We all know that Bill Shorten is not going to be the next prime minister. He already backstabbed Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.”

      Then it’s good that we have an honourable prime minister who got there by relying on the good graces of his predecessor to assist him in gaining that position.

  13. “I had to feel sorry for Communications Minister Mitch Fifield during this afternoon’s exchange.”

    I dont, he is a slimy little weasel, he deserves everything he gets, if he had a spine he would have told Mal to shove his MTM up his arse.

  14. What’s not a good look is Labor not outlining what they are going to do about it, and how long whatever they have in mind is going to take and at what cost, and how their start again FTTP rollout is going to give planned HFC and FTTN residences are quicker solution at less cost.

    The electorate looks forward to voting on a 2016 alternative NBN policy not negative grandstanding, Labor tried that in 2013, the negative campaign then worked really well.

    • “The electorate looks forward to voting on a 2016 alternative NBN policy not negative grandstanding, Labor tried that in 2013, the negative campaign then worked really well.”

      Negative grandstanding worked pretty well for the LNP in 2013. Well, that, and mean nothing 3 word slogans like “Sterhp da berts” and a nonexistent budget crisis that disappeared despite the LNP increasing our debt. Kay.

      • I was referring to the Labor NBN campaign of 2013 where their pre election strategy think tank concluded you need to keep mentioning copper even when you didn’t need to mention copper.

        It seems the lesson of the past is going unheeded, either that or they don’t want to give the Coalition any ammunition by announcing any hint of a solution too early, especially as they have no idea what the solution is.

        • Reality its a bit much to ask what will Labor do, up to 6 months out from an election when even senate committees can’t get info out of NBN. I doubt Labor will know the full extent of previously signed NBN commitments until they are elected. All we can be guaranteed of is that FTTN will wind down and FTTH will ramp up.

        • @ alain,

          “… especially as they have no idea what the solution is.”

          Welcome to “actual reality”… a place where we all knew and you have finally realised/even just openly admitted… MTM is so fucked that neither party knows how to fix it.

          You’re welcome

          • Hotcakes,

            I just cannot get my head around this detail from your SMH link, it is overwhelming.

            “Fibre to the node will be gone,” he said. “It’s not a question of if this will happen, it’s when it will happen and how it will be done.

            Yeah we would like to know when it will happen and how it will done as well, nice to know you don’t know yet either, also it would be good to know how you intend to rectify the mistakes of the past, that is the previous FTTP rollout of your party which you admitted was slow.

            I guess the ‘how and when’ will need to wait for this to be done.

            “Labor itself probably won’t know until it does its own strategic review so it’ll be another year or so [after a Labor election victory] before you can answer that.”

            umm what? so sometime in 2017-18 they start a partial FTTP rollout again (maybe), to the balance of residences whatever that number is (dice roll) that have not got FTTN at some yet to be determined point in time (maybe), with a finish date and estimated funding yet to be calculated.

            shh and whatever you do don’t mention HFC or retrofitting FTTN areas with FTTP.

          • Reality it doesn’t matter if you don’t get your head around it because CP change lol

          • “the previous FTTP rollout of your party which you admitted was slow.”
            [Citation Needed]

            “I guess the ‘how and when’ will need to wait for this to be done.”
            As you are well aware and have been reminded of 50 times a day for the last 3 millennia, given the level of transparency currently employed at nbn it is impossible to know how much garbage nbn has signed up for until a differing party takes over.

            “to the balance of residences whatever that number is (dice roll) ”
            Knowing full well the die roll is a 1D10+20.

            “with a finish date and estimated funding yet to be calculated.”
            According to Liberal garbage figures, the cost of overbuilding with FTTP back to 93% would be ~$60-80b. So, since CP16 acknowledges that the most ‘accurate’ current figures were those in SR13, one can use brainjuice to expect a Labor rollout to now more closely match Scenario 4 in topology and cost.

            “shh and whatever you do don’t mention HFC or retrofitting FTTN areas with FTTP.”
            Detailed in Clares ‘stage 2’ of the post-MTMess NBN.

    • The lack of official information form nbn would make it very difficult to plan anything other than at a very high level. I expect ALP policy to be released as late as possible so that any new developments in the rollout are catered for.

      You *do* remember that the LNP “fully costed plan” prior to the election has increased from some $29B to between $45 and $56B in only a couple of years ?

    • What’s not a good look is Labor not outlining what they are going to do about it, and how long whatever they have in mind is going to take and at what cost, and how their start again FTTP rollout is going to give planned HFC and FTTN residences are quicker solution at less cost.

      I doubt they’ll really know themselves until they get back in, because they won’t be able to see the contracts that Malcolm may, or may not, have “poison chaliced” on them.

      Jason Claire is on record saying “If you vote for the Labor Party at the next election you will be voting for more fibre”, so I expect they’ll modify things towards fibre where they can.

      • you will be voting for more fibre”,

        That could mean they are accelerating the FTTN rollout or going for a higher FTTdp mix, Clare seems to like FTTdp, the claytons FTTP, he is avoiding saying FTTP. :)

        • Could mean a switch to FTTdp which would do what the current gov is claiming not FTTN.

          • That’d make a lot more sense than FttN.

            I read an article on CNet where Telstra admits in court that they planned for copper to be EoL by 2022, but that the NBN coming along and expecting to use it far beyond that will increase their costs considerably.

            Fttdp would help cut that a lot I expect.

    • Yes and as you said, Labor needs a solution to repair the Coalitions MTS fuck-up… didn’t you?

      And I agree with you alain…

      You’re welcome

  15. Just a bunch of children playing with something they don’t really understand on the left and right. Simply put my thoughts are, Do they want an answer to the question or not. It appears very much that they don’t, Not to mention the disrespect to someone trying to answer their questions by talking over them.

    Regardless of which side you are on sit down, Shut up and listen. If they can’t do that eject them from the room as there is no excuse for an adult to behave in such a disgusting way.

  16. I agree that the amount of lying in Parliament is “spinning” out of control, but if you consistently tell the truth in politics, the electorate will punish you.

    In my opinion the integrity of our political system reflects the same in our society, and I believe is driven to a large extent by an insidious corporate culture where lying and spinning has become an integral component of doing business.

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