NBN final report in, but government is gagged

Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy said that while the government ‘will give this serious and detailed report careful consideration’ it would not be commenting on the report’s highly anticipated contents.

“Until this point, the evaluation of proposals received in the National Broadband Network process has proceeded at arm’s length from the Government,” said Conroy.

“The Government had not seen the contents of any proposal, nor had it received detailed briefings on any proposals from the Panel of Experts.”

“The disclosure of the contents of the panel’s report before the completion of the process, particularly any negotiation phase, has the potential to prejudice the outcome of the process,” said Conroy.

The NBN process and associated probity requirements ‘remained active’, Conroy said.

Conroy did, however, state that the panel had made an invaluable contribution to the ‘realisation’ of the Government’s commitment to the rollout of the NBN.

Conroy also acknowledged the ACCC ‘which had provided its own report as input to the Panel’s consideration’.

No guidance was provided on when the government is expected to reveal details of the final report, or when the report would be released to the public.