Conroy to hold midday NBN report press lockup

Renai LeMay
Thursday, 06 May 2010 11:15

IT Industry - Strategy

Microsoft Office 365

The office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy will today exclusively reveal the contents of the controversial National Broadband Implementation study to the Canberra press gallery in a budget-style lock-up lasting from 12 midday to 1:30pm.

Multiple sources confirmed the timing, although the Minister’s office has not returned calls or emails asking for confirmation that a budget-style press lock-up would be held today. It is unclear which news outlets have been invited to the lock-up and which have not — Delimiter has not been invited.

The Minister has been promising to release the report for six weeks, but only this week confirmed that the report’s release was imminent.

According to its original brief, the implementation study — which runs to 500 pages — will determine the operating arrangements for the NBN Company, as well as detailing network design and financial details — for example, attracting private sector investment. It was put together by consulting firms KPMG and McKinsey.

However, since NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley came on board last year, the company has already taken action on a number of fronts which the tender documents mentioned would be covered by the implementation study — such as key decisions on network design. The NBN Co has also kickstarted various procurement processes associated with the NBN buildout.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam had threatened to pull the party’s support for the Federal Government’s controversial telecommunications reform legislation due to Stephen Conroy’s decision to not yet release the National Broadband Implementation study during the last Senate sitting.

Further news as it comes.

Image credit: Office of Stephen Conroy