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Telecommunications Opposition branded "irresponsible" over Senate Estimates ploy
Telecommunications Opposition branded "irresponsible" over Senate Estimates ploy | Opposition branded "irresponsible" over Senate Estimates ploy |
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| by Stuart Corner | |
| Tuesday, 27 May 2008 | |
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"Accordingly, I do not propose to make any comments or answer any questions about the process in the current Senate Estimates hearing. This is consistent with the approach taken by the Opposition when they were in Government." Conroy said that, during the course of the T3 sale, the former finance minister, senator Nick Minchin, declined to answer questions about the scoping study and float. He noted that Estimates proceedings should not be used to "disrupt or damage" the sale process. Minchin highlighted "the potential for inadvertent comment that could affect the sale process." Billson meanwhile has continued his attacks on Conroy over the Auditor General's report into the probity of the RFP process, following Billson's request to the AG to investigate several aspects of the process. Central to Billson's concerns is Conroy's statement that he would accept non-complying bids. In his A response the AG acknowledged that amendments to the RFP would be required, but that this was built in to the initial document. He said: "You...raised a concern that the Government is prepared to accept non-compliant bids. Amendments to the RFP would be required for non-compliant bids to be accepted. The [Australian National Audit Office] notes that the RFP provides the flexibility to make such amendments, should the Government choose to do so." The focus of Billson's latest attack is a report that the, Labor, Tasmanian Government has paid the $5m bond to participate in the RFP and intends to bid to provide a broadband network only in Tasmania. Such a local network proposal would be non-compliant with the RFP and Billson suggests the state government may be privy to inside information. "Does a State Labor Government know what a Federal Labor Government plans to ultimately accept while the rest of the telecommunications community and other potential bidders continue to be denied crucial, up-to-date, tender information?"
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