Victorians can look forward to more areas of their state being able to access the highest speed NBN speed tiers under a co-investment agreement between NBN Co Limited (NBN Co) and the Victorian Government, announced today.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said that the Victorian Government had granted $73 million in funds to NBN Co for use on digital connectivity upgrades. The funds will be used to partner with NBN Co on upgrades to business connectivity, regional connectivity for communities served by fixed-wireless and satellite services and fibre-to-the-node to fibre-to-the-premises enabled technology area flips.
In return, NBN Co has made funding available through its $300 million Regional Co-Investment Fund and its $700 million Business Fibre Zone program to partner with the Victorian Government. Funds will be spent only on projects that are agreed between the parties.
“Network investment in digital infrastructure in Victoria will create jobs both in the medium term, during the design and construction process, and over the long-term, by stimulating new businesses and greater productivity,” Minister Fletcher said.
The first project will extend fibre deeper into selected communities, and create eleven new Business Fibre Zones in Benalla, Colac, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne South, Dromana, Hamilton, Lara, Packenham North, Packenham South, Warragul and Wonthaggi-Inverloch.
In these areas, around 10,000 Victorian businesses will become eligible to acquire Enterprise Ethernet business-grade fibre connections, NBN Co’s premium-grade business offering, delivering symmetrical speeds of up to 1Gbps, at no upfront cost.
In addition, these businesses will have access to Enterprise Ethernet at CBD prices, providing significant discounts for many regional businesses, increasing affordability and giving small and medium businesses in particular the opportunity to boost productivity, innovate and grow.
The funding from the Victorian Government will be combined with funds from NBN Co to enhance National Broadband Network infrastructure through an area switch available under NBN Co’s technology change program.
With the initial network build complete, over 11.9 million premises able to connect, and $4.5 billion in network upgrades underway, NBN Co is well positioned to work with all local and the State/Territory Governments to boost connectivity in their communities even further.
The Morrison Government and NBN Co have committed up to $300 million for co-investment in regional services, primarily aimed at fixed wireless and satellite services, and an additional $50 million to extend business-grade services outside of existing, designated Business Fibre Zones. NBN Co will draw from these funds to co-invest with the Victorian government.
For more information on the application process and guidelines for NBN Co’s Regional Co-investment Fund, go to www.nbnco.com.au.
The distressing calls I have received from constituents who are about to lose their jobs because, for one reason or another, they choose not to accept the current vaccines available are some of the worst calls I have taken in my life as a parliamentarian. I feel powerless in the face of government or employer directives.
Some can afford to take a stand and leave their employment, others may be redeployed, or find work elsewhere. Most need the jobs that they love just to survive.
Many are the only breadwinners in the household.
Even the Americans have health and religious abstentions, but here it is discouraged or flatly refused by doctors. This is wrong. This is not in keeping with the freedom I claim to stand for as an elected representative.
It is also heartbreaking to hear the anguish in the voices of those that have been given no choice.
Where are we headed? A choice not to be vaccinated means you are out of the airline industry, out of health and aged care, out of childcare. Where does this discrimination end?
Will unvaccinated people be refused entry to sporting venues, hospitals, aged care centres?
What will be next?
Where are the civil libertarians that have stood in solidarity with me in the past?
At the very least, you would expect people to be given the opportunity to have the Novavax vaccine that is coming in a few months’ time. Novavax will probably be more acceptable to people like myself.
One of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world, Israel - they are now looking to booster shots as their number of cases rise in the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
We need to know what the experience of Israel, and the United Kingdom for that matter, is - given they are well ahead of us in this. What can we glean from their experiences?
Australians have always been independent thinkers, questioning authority from our birth. But today, where are the people in Australia questioning our current approach to tackling the pandemic?
Why is there only one view coming from the government and health officials? Why are we not looking to treatments that are proving effective in countries around the world as we would normally do?
My heart aches for my people in distress through lockdowns, job losses and business destruction.
It seems to me the upheaval causing anxiety, hopelessness, fear and incalculable economic repercussions may well be worse than the virus itself, with possible long term and deep consequences.
That’s just as I see it.
Today I am joined by State Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood, to discuss the Memorial Service for the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club - Gippsland Chapter. The service remembers those who served during the Vietnam War and commemorates the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
I wish I could be there with you all on Sunday. I’ll be thinking of you.
Russell Broadbent MP has urged exporters in Monash to take advantage of the Coalition Government’s improved export grants program.
Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) support Australian small to medium enterprises to become successful exporters by co-funding international marketing and promotional expenses; driving export growth and local jobs.
“The Coalition Government has provided $214.5 million to support 4,700 Australian businesses to develop and expand into export markets through the EMDG program in 2020-21,” Mr Broadbent said.
“I encourage businesses in Monash to apply for an export grant to supercharge their business and go global.”
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said EMDG program had been improved by simplified legislation, a streamlined application process and a shift to a forward-looking grant program which will ensure exporters know how much funding they will receive before they spend.
“Our Government wants Australian businesses to succeed internationally, because it supports jobs and local communities and underpins our economic recovery,” Mr Tehan said.
To apply for an Export Market Development Grant go to: austrade.gov.au/EMDG
Applying for Export Market Development Grants (EDMG) from 1 July 2021
For export promotional activities from 1 July 2021, EMDG will no longer operate as a reimbursement scheme. Applications open 16 August and close 30 November 2021.
You can still claim reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred up to 30 June 2021 by applying under the final year of the reimbursement scheme. Applications for the reimbursement scheme close 30 November 2021, or 28 February 2022 if you are using a participating EMDG consultant.
The new forward-looking grant program will enable you to plan your marketing and promotional activities with confidence, because you will know how much you will receive over the life of your grant agreement.
Grants are designed to support you during different stages of your export journey:
Tier 1: Ready to export
Tier 2: Expanding
Tier 3: Expanding and strategic shift
Eligibility
You’re eligible to apply for a grant if:
Your products are eligible if they’re substantially of Australian origin and are:
A simple, streamlined process:
Applications are open from 16 August to 30 November 2021: austrade.gov.au/EMDG
New road safety upgrades and improvements will be delivered in Monash thanks to funding from the Australian Government.
Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said the funding will deliver crucial road safety improvements in Monash while also supporting shovel-ready construction activity.
“This vital funding provides a critical boost to local jobs and the economy in an uncertain environment, but it also delivers life-saving upgrade works to keep people safe on our roads,” Mr Broadbent said.“A total of $144,000 will be spent across Phillip Island to fund road new safety upgrades and improvements to help reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries occurring on our roads.
“The most important thing we can do for our community is ensure we all get home safely as currently around 1,200 people die and 40,000 are seriously injured on our roads each year.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said one life lost on Australian roads is one too many.
“That’s why the Australian Government has committed $3 billion for the nationwide Road Safety Program,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Our Government is committed to keeping our communities safe, while securing our economic recovery.
“The funding supports the fast roll-out of life-saving safety works on rural and regional roads, and is another example of the Australian Government working to reduce the number of Australians missing around the dinner table due to tragedies on our roads.”
The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions and will deliver life-saving treatments on regional roads and protect vulnerable road users across the state, while also supporting local jobs and providing a welcome boost to local economies.
The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require states and territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a timeframe, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said road safety was a key priority for the Australian Government and this investment in road upgrades would provide a boost to the economy while ensuring Australians can get home sooner and safer.
“Making our roads safer is a critical component of our work to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads and move towards achieving vision zero—that is zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2050,” Mr Buchholz said.
“We are also investing significantly in other life-saving road safety initiatives including the Black Spot Program, Targeted Road Safety Works initiative and Road Safety Innovation Fund.
“This additional funding complements that work, resulting in an even greater roll out of improved infrastructure and roads right across the nation.”
For more information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.
Project Funded
Phillip Island – various locations
Implementation of safer speed limits of 80km/h or less to replace the existing 100km/h speed limits on high speed rural sealed arterial and municipal road network across Phillip Island.
I am truly humbled by your thought-provoking responses to my call for your views on vaccination passports.
We are receiving about a thousand responses a day. Articulate, passionate, and concerned.
Thank you all for your feedback and your interest in the state of the nation at this most difficult of times.
There are strong arguments on both sides, and others only concerned about preserving the freedoms we enjoy in this the Great South Land.
My concerns are echoed by many who have corresponded with me. However, I appreciate the contribution from those who rightly and genuinely have other views.
As one constituent from West Gippsland wrote:
“I write this letter in desperation, I am asking you to please stand up for my freedom and my children’s freedom and vote NO to vaccination passports in this country.
Where will it stop? Will my children be able to go to school? Participate in local footy? Attend playgroup? Will I be able to shop for essentials? Purchase Food? Will my partner keep his job? Can we travel interstate? Passing these draconian passports will greatly impact my family and our right to choose. This is absolutely the worst form of medical coercion this country has ever seen!”
Or as another constituent from South Gippsland said:
“If some vaccination certification/passport is what is required to return my freedom of travel domestically then internationally; return mine and my family’s freedom from lockdowns so we may again gather for family occasions at will; return so many businesses’ freedom from mere survival if not bankruptcy; return our health system’s freedom from the potential to be overwhelmed; return children’s freedom to attend school without interruption etc etc…..then so be it.”
In this conversation with each other remember we are all Australians. Passion for freedom is respected.
However, there is no place for confrontation or abuse of others with different views to ourselves.
Respect for one another remains fundamental for a cohesive country going forward, with hope and compassion together.
You may have heard that international airlines will roll out digital health passes – otherwise known as a vaccine passport when international flights resume.
While private companies are entitled to make whatever decisions they like regarding vaccine passports, I have to say, I feel uncomfortable about the use of vaccine passports being made mandatory for domestic travel.
Over the past few months I’ve received passionate emails and calls from many constituents pleading with me to vote against the introduction of vaccine passports. But equally, I know many people are supportive of the idea.
Any decisions about vaccine passports need to be carefully considered and I want to better understand the perspectives of the people I represent.
So today, I invite you to respond to this video and share your views with me. In fact, feel free to forward this video to your family, friends and colleagues located in the Monash electorate and encourage them to let me know about their views as well.
691 Businesses in the Monash electorate will benefit from cheaper and faster broadband with NBN Co announcing the establishment of a Business Fibre Zone at Phillip Island – Bass Coast today.
Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent MP, said the new Zone will allow local businesses to access fibre with speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second, enabling a range of new business opportunities that previously weren’t possible.
“This has the potential to revitalise and reshape our region, from the services locals are able to access, to industries like tourism and hospitality which are all major employers in their own right,” Russell Broadbent said.
“Access to high speed internet will allow local businesses to grow and thrive, break into new markets, and secure our long-term growth potential.
“With no upfront build costs and discounts of up to 60 per cent on NBN Co’s current wholesale plans, I am keen to see local businesses take advantage of these zones.”
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the 44 new Zones would help thousands of businesses participate in the digital economy on an equal footing, and bring the total number of Business Fibre Zones to 284.
“As we manage and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, investment in local business communications infrastructure will ensure that businesses can recover quickly, while taking advantage of domestic and international markets,” Minister Fletcher said.
“Improving access to high speed, reliable, and high quality broadband is a key part of the Australian Government’s communications agenda, which is why we are investing directly in the electorate of Monash.”
Today’s announcement will support an additional 60,000 eligible businesses across Australia, taking the total number of businesses within a Business Fibre Zone to 850,000, of which nearly 300,000 businesses are in regional Australia. NBN’s Enterprise Ethernet, NBN Co’s fastest symmetrical wholesale product offers these businesses plans of up to 1 Gigabit per second at the same price as CBD areas.
This extension to NBN Co’s Business Fibre Zone initiative builds on the $700 million package announced last year to transform the accessibility and affordability of business-grade fibre and allow small to medium businesses to embrace opportunities for growth.
The announcement comes at the same time as research by Frontier Economics shows NBN Co’s business fibre investments will contribute up to $7.2 billion annually to the economy by 2024.
The research also forecasts productivity benefits for businesses of up to 12 per cent, with regional areas particularly set to benefit and evidence of increased retail competition which is good for businesses.
For more information about the NBN Business Fibre Zones initiative, including the new pricing options, visit https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/about-nbn-co/corporate-plan/business-fibre-initiative.
For more information on the research, visit https://www.communications.gov.au/documents/economic-impact-new-nbn-investments-business-report-frontier-economics.
Dear school leaver,
Congratulations on your impending graduation!
This is a challenging, but nonetheless exciting time to be completing school. The future requires all of us to be adaptable and prepared. Exploring your options means accessing current information on a range of pathways, talking to your parents, friends, teachers and career advisers. The School Leavers’ Guide is a great starting point.
When deciding what you might do after school, consider your interests, your likes and dislikes, your experiences at school, at home and within your community. Think about hopes and visions for your future and where you want to study, train or work.
In this guide there are sections about career development, further education and training options, financial assistance available to young people as well as useful contact details for more detailed information.
I trust you will find this information helpful. Please contact my office on 03 5623 2064 if I can be of any further assistance. I also encourage you to enrol to vote if you have not yet done so – simply call my office and I will send you an enrolment form.
Good luck as you make the transition from school and I wish you every success in your future endeavours.
Download the guide here BroadbentR_School Leavers Guide 2021_Monash
I encourage you to have your say on the next National Plan to end violence against women and their children.
The National Women’s Safety Summit on 6 and 7 September will now be held online and you can access the program here.
Live-streaming details will be made available on this website closer to the event.
Following the webinar, the Minister for Women’s Safety, Anne Ruston, has invited people to visit www.engage.dss.gov.au to make a submission and contribute to this important national discussion.
In addition to providing formal feedback through the DSS website, I also want to hear from my constituents in Monash. You can do so by emailing me at russell.broadbent.mp@aph.gov.au. Please put “Feedback from the Summit” into the subject line so we can quickly identify your email. Pending the lifting of lockdown restrictions, I will host a follow up event to hear your feedback with a view to presenting your recommendations to the parliament.
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of violence call 1800RESPECT and 000 if you are in danger.
