G9 fires back at Telstra for "useless" broadband report

The group has labeled Telstra's release as “useless,” claiming it does not provide the necessary information needed by bidders who want to provide detailed offers.

"Aside from a mathematical model the only ‘real world’ data available is a set of street addresses for telephone exchange buildings and average distances for
copper cables,” said G9 bid manager Michael Simmons.

The G9 is urging the Government to pass legislation that is set to be introduced into the Senate tomorrow.

The bill would force Telstra to release the required information to help bidders make accurate proposals.

Simmons believes Government intervention is the only way Telstra will release the extra information, and allow the bidding process to be fair amongst all competitors.

“For the sake of Australian consumers, today and into the future, [Telstra] must be forced to compete on a level playing field,” he said.

However, Telstra believes the report does in fact provide the information required by the Government and questions why the G9 is even discussing the report since it is has not put down the required $5 million to be an official bidder.

“My reaction is how would they know?" said Telstra spokesperson Jeremy Mitchell.

"Only serious bidders have access to the information, and to our knowledge they haven’t put $5 million bond on the table."

"It seems that those who are talking aren’t doing, and those who are doing aren’t talking.”

Simmons says that the G9 indeed does not have enough information about the network to make a proper bid and that rushing through the bidding process could mean major problems in the future.

"It’s difficult to commit $5 million to a bond to enable a compelling bid when the information they’ve provided isn’t sufficient, and that’s come from third parties who have looked at the information," he said.

"I think it’s really important to have more time, so we can have a compelling and competive bid."

"Rushing into tight time frames seems ridiculous, we don’t have the information to put a compelling offer in, I don’t understand what’s important about rushing this and ending up with the wrong outcome."