It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Communications.

As a lawyer specialising in communications for over a decade before entering Parliament, I look forward to tackling the challenges and embracing the opportunities for communications policy in Australia.

Communications is integral to the paramount Labor value of equality of opportunity and a critical part of Labor's plan for jobs. 

Labor will continue to bring a consumer-focused approach to communications policy. Businesses and organisations across industries - from education and health care to Australia's over 2 million small businesses - need confidence that communications policy is working for them.  This means questions of accessibility and affordability must be the highest priorities. 

The election presented a clear choice between the Turnbull Government's failed approach to a second-rate National Broadband Network, and Labor's commitment for up to 2 million more fibre connections, as ably championed by Jason Clare.

The Prime Minister boasts the NBN is one of his proudest achievements, yet he oversaw Australia slide from 30th in the world for internet speeds to 60th. This simply isn't good enough. 

I will continue to prosecute Labor's commitment to a world-class NBN and ensure Labor's approach to many important policy debates - including the communications regulatory framework, universal service, media ownership reform, our public broadcasters and community radio - is grounded in evidence and what is best for all Australians, from our urban centres to regional and rural communities. 

SATURDAY 23 JULY 2016