Shocked Telstra labels Conroy "unprecedented" demand as risk to national security

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 29 February 2008 09:07

IT Policy - Regulation

Minister Conroy is then quoted as saying in a letter to “all telecommunications network operators” that he has assured “all companies” that: "appropriate arrangements will be put in place to deal with any commercially sensitive information provided. Where the information is made available to proponent companies and their staff, they would be required to enter into a non-disclosure deed that would specify the purposes for which the information could be used.”

This seems to indicate that other telecommunications companies are also being asked to provide details of their networks – information which Optus, according to the report, is happy to share.

The latest episode in the ongoing national fibre network saga has encouraged political opponents and now the incumbent national carrier to raise questions about whether Minister Conroy – and the new Federal Labor Government – know what they are doing.