States' battle for NBN Co 'embarrassing' - Minchin

James Riley
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:01

IT Industry - Market

South Australian senator Nick Minchin has taken a swipe at the “gratuitous grandstanding” of the three eastern seaboard Premiers, calling attempts to woo the NBN Company headquarters to their own states “ridiculous.”

Senator Minchin, the shadow communications spokesman, singled out Queensland Premier Anna Bligh for special treatment, calling her offer of taxpayer funded sweeteners to secure the headquarters of what is still a one-man operation “embarrassing.”

“While a board has been appointed, we don’t even know whether the NBN company will be a large-scale employer, if it will require commercial real estate, or acquire plant and equipment,” Senator Minchin said, adding that the NBN Company may remain modest in size, as primarily a project management company.

“This company is not a play thing to be sold to the highest bidding Labor premier for publicity purposes,” he said.

“A board has been appointed and I expect it will make a pragmatic commercial decision in the event it requires a major headquarters and its decision won’t be swayed by gratuitous grandstanding from the likes of Anna Bligh, Nathan Rees and John Brumby,” Senator Minchin said.

On the last point, Senator Minchin and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy may be in vigorous agreement. Senator Conroy has previously said the location of the NBN Company headquarters would be a commercial decision made by the board of directors.