Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Now that Telstra has confirmed that it is not prepared to submit a formal bid in response to the government’s National Broadband Network request for proposals, is it not the case that the government’s tender process has effectively collapsed?

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

I thank Senator Minchin for his ongoing interest. Today is a significant milestone in the government’s NBN request for proposals. In fact, it is a significant day for the Australian telecommunications sector. I have here media statements from Axia, Optus Terria, the Tasmanian government, Telstra, Transact and Acacia indicating that they have submitted proposals to build the National Broadband Network. The number of bidders competing for the right to build the National Broadband Network is a vindication of the government’s commitment to an open, competitive process facilitating the rollout of this important infrastructure. It is clear from the public statements of bidders to date that the government’s process has produced substantial competitive tension amongst proponents. This competitive tension was important to maximising the quality of proposals received by the government. This competitive tension will ultimately ensure a better outcome for Australia. This has been the government’s overriding objective for the process all along. The government’s independent expert panel will now get down to work and assess these proposals. The request for proposals states that the expert panel will have eight weeks to evaluate these proposals and provide a report to me. It is, however, important to emphasise that the RFP process for the NBN is still live. (Time expired)

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to Telstra’s statement today in which they say that their detailed bid has been prepared but ‘could not be submitted due to a number of unresolved issues in the government’s request for proposals.’ Why has the minister sought to mislead this Senate by suggesting that Telstra has submitted a bid?

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

Selective quoting is what you expect from a party that consistently failed to deliver after 18 failed broadband plans in nearly 12 years. It is no surprise to see this opposition trying to undermine the process. Let me read to you from the Telstra press release: ‘Telstra believes the Government can consider its proposal under the existing terms of the RFP’. It is pretty simple: Telstra think they have put in a proposal. It could not be clearer than that. So let me be clear: as I was saying, it is, however, important to emphasise that the RFP process for the NBN is still live. As a result, I cannot pre-empt the words of the expert panel— (Time expired)

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I ask the minister: is it not the case that the terms and conditions of the government’s RFP prevented entering into negotiations with Telstra in relation to the NBN, given its clear failure to lodge a formal bid?

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

I guess when you have already made the announcement on behalf of Telstra that they did not put in a bid, Senator Minchin, you want to ignore what is stated here.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr McGauchie told me they aren’t submitting a bid. You are misleading the Senate.

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

I am reading from a statement by Telstra’s chairman, Donald McGauchie. It says, ‘Telstra believes the Government can consider its proposal under the existing terms of the RFP’. So Telstra have stated that they believe that it can be considered.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Minchin interjecting—

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

I am sorry to disappoint Senator Minchin.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Conroy, resume your seat. Shouting across the chamber so the chair cannot hear the answer is disorderly.

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

Thank you. As I have been trying to make clear to those in the chamber, the expert panel will now consider the proposals. They will now consider the proposals and they will then make a recommendation. And it is a live process, so I will not be commenting on the content of individual— (Time expired)