Paul Fletcher MP, the Federal Member for Bradfield delivered his Maiden Speech in Australian Parliament in Canberra yesterday.

Mr Fletcher commented on the Government’s proposed National Broadband Network - outlining his view based on his nearly 15 years working on public policy in the communications sector, as an adviser to Communications Minister, Richard Alston—and later as a senior executive at Optus.

"When a government commits, for example, to a $43 billion national broadband network without a cost benefit study, that is a travesty… I am a strong believer that, having high-speed broadband widely available is socially and economically desirable, but I think this plan is ill-judged. On the cost side, the network design is hugely expensive when compared to alternatives like fibre to the node or wireless. But the revenue side is even riskier." Mr Fletcher said.

Mr Fletcher went on to outline his interest and passion for sound and responsible economic and social policy.

"When it comes to economic issues, my instinct is for open markets, free competition and as little state interference as possible. And when it comes to social issues, I start with the same preference. I am a believer in the rights of the individual and I am suspicious of the state seeking to exercise control over personal choices," Mr Fletcher said.

To download the full Maiden Speech, click here.

On 2 February 2010, the Speaker of the House of Representatives announced that he had received returns to the writ which he had issued on 30 October 2009 for the election of a Member to serve for the electoral division of Bradfield, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr Brendan Nelson. By the endorsement on the writ, it was certified that Paul William Fletcher had been elected as the Member to serve for the division of Bradfield.

Paul then made and subscribed the oath of allegiance as required by law.

" Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to be able to join you today to celebrate Australia Day.

I particularly want to add my congratulations to everybody here who has auspiciously chosen Australia Day as the day upon which to receive Australian citizenship.

It somehow seems particularly appropriate that our national day should occur at the end of our long annual period of relaxation – a time when so many Australians are able to spend time enjoying our beaches, our parks, and every aspect of our magnificent country.

Here in Ku-ring-gai there are plenty of opportunities to do just that.

We are a hard working people, but we also like to take a break, and there is nothing more Australian than this time of year.

There is also, paradoxically, nothing more Australian than a citizenship ceremony.

Australia is one of the great immigrant nations of the world.

A very high proportion of Australians were either born overseas or have parents who were born overseas.

In fact almost all of us can say with precision when our family first arrived in Australia.

Only the first Australians, our indigenous people, can truly claim that they have lost in the mists of time the recollection of when their family first arrived.

For the rest of us, we can trace it back. It might be in the last ten or twenty years, as part of the great expansion of immigration from China, India and other Asian nations. It might be in the fifties, when there was a wave of arrivals from Italy, Greece and other nations of war-torn Europe.

And some among us can trace back their origins to a family member who arrived in the eighteen hundreds or even the seventeen hundreds. That arrival may have been involuntary back then, but that does not stop it being a source of pride now.

Australia has been greatly enriched by all of these arrivals.

I get into trouble in my family when I compare the contribution of Italians – such as my wife’s parents who arrived in the sixties – and those from the UK, such as my parents who arrived at about the same time.

The Italian contribution to our culture has included so many marvellous items of food and drink – pasta, olive oil, tiramisu, foccacia, espresso coffee. These are things which make life wonderful. The British contribution includes the brussel sprout and the parsnip. As you may infer, I do not regard either as wonderful.

But the serious point is that the character and texture of this nation has been made diverse and rich and robust by the wide variety of people who have come to make their lives here.

To those here who are about to become citizens, I know that you have been through a rather bureaucratic process – and a process in which you have been told about the benefits which you will receive as a result of becoming an Australian citizen.

Can I say to you on behalf of everybody else here that from our point of view, we know that we too are going to receive considerable benefits from you becoming an Australian citizen.

Your creativity, your ingenuity, your drive, your hard work, your talents are going to benefit Australia and make it a better place.

Be assured – we are pleased with our side of the bargain!

We know this from our experience and from the history of this nation.

Thank you to everybody who has come here today to celebrate Australia Day.

And particular thanks to those of you who have come here today to become Australian citizens.

I congratulate you – and I wish everybody here a happy Australia Day. "