Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The request for proposals sets out 18 objectives that proponents should address, including open access arrangements to facilitate competition and ensure equivalence of access terms. Section 1.5.16 of the request for proposals states:

Proponents should submit their proposed arrangements for ensuring open access to the NBN, including measures or models to ensure that access is provided on the equivalent price and non-price terms and conditions.

This section goes on to state:

If a proponent proposes to supply both wholesale and retail services it should demonstrate what structural measures or models it proposes be put in place and maintained to prevent inappropriate self-preferential treatment and ensure that effective open access is achieved on the terms required by the Commonwealth.

The government has no preconceived preference on whether any particular measures or models for open access are better than others. What is important is that the government focuses on objectives such as competition, open access and equivalence. The arrangements put forward by proponents in response to the RFP will be considered by the expert panel, which will provide a report to the government on its recommendations.

It is not surprising that some proponents are keen to avoid the competitive tension of the NBN process by seeking to have regulatory options ruled in or out before bids have even been lodged. It is disappointing, however, that the current shadow minister has bought into this public posturing around the NBN process. Senator Minchin’s comments on this process are particularly difficult to understand— (Time expired)