FED:Conroy hints at NBN business case delay

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2010
FED:Conroy hints at NBN business case delay

By Stephen Johnson

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has hinted the business
case for the national broadband network (NBN) may not be released by Christmas as promised.

The federal government had previously vowed to release the financial details of the
$36 billion project after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave
it a report on how retailers could plug into the network.

But a week after receiving that ACCC advice, Senator Conroy has suggested the NBN business
case may not be released in December.

"To some degree, the decision of cabinet - which will be influenced by the ACCC - will
then lead to some further work that may need to be done on the NBN business case, as you
would expect it to be done," he told reporters on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the minister said an announcement would be made this week about the
release of the 400-page NBN business case.

South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon said Senator Conroy's office had
not flagged to him any delay in releasing the NBN business case on schedule.

"He would be concerned about any unwarranted delays in the release of the business
case," a spokesman for Senator Xenophon told AAP.

The news came as a board member of the NBN Co, the company building the network, resigned.

Doug Campbell would be replaced as a director, a spokeswoman for Senator Conroy said.

Mr Campbell, a 48-year telecommunications veteran and a former senior executive with
Telstra, had been in charge of the NBN's rollout at three sites in Tasmania.

Over summer, people with concerns about the NBN can send their submissions to a House
of Representatives communications committee.

"The committee is looking forward to hearing from a range of organisations and individuals
across Australia about how they will be affected by the rollout of high-speed broadband
into their communities," chairwoman Sharon Bird said in a statement.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has asked the committee to look into how the
NBN could help deliver government services and stimulate economic growth and employment
in regional areas.

The committee will accept submissions until February 25 and is due to deliver a report
by August 2011.

AAP saj/sb/jhp

KEYWORD: NBN WRAP

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