I suspect the online survey recently initiated by the Labor Member for the Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon is only going to confirm what the government and Telstra already know, the Hunter’s internet connections and speeds aren’t where we’d like them to be.

Maybe it would’ve been better if the previous government, from which he [Mr Fitzgibbon] was a cabinet minister of, had left the Howard government’s OPEL plan in place. I suspect many more ADSL ports would now be available.

It’s a little late six-years later to start surveying the public proposing to fight for what OPEL would’ve delivered. He should’ve acted while in government.

I’d like to point out we’ve had some good news lately with NBN now being made available to East Maitland.

NBN is now being better managed, so I ask everyone to be patient, as it is rolled out across the nation.

I’d also like to invite Mr Fitzgibbon to share the survey results, as I’d be happy to talk to the minister on his constituents’ behalf or they can contact my office ­directly.

- Bob Baldwin, Paterson MP