Greens boil over Conroy's Senate snub

 

Government holds onto NBN implementation study.

The Greens have threatened to revoke support for the Telstra split bill in what appears to be retaliation for the Government's failure to produce the NBN implementation study to the Senate.

Senator Scott Ludlam branded Communication Minister Stephen Conroy's decision to ignore a Senate order for the report to be produced as "an offensive snub".

"With the numbers in the Senate so finely balanced and a hostile opposition, the Minister seems determined to burn what little goodwill remains on the crossbenches," Ludlam said.

"The support of the Australian Greens is essential for the Governments telecommunications agenda to progress.

"That support can no longer be taken for granted."

Ludlam said the "suppression" of the only independent analysis of the NBN project would "further erode confidence in the Government's plans for sweeping telecommunications reform."

"In essence, this is the Minister saying 'trust me' with a cheque for $43 billion dollars, and then expecting the Senate to wave through complex and far-reaching legislation without proper scrutiny," he said.

"That isn't going to happen."

Conroy is on the record saying the Government would weigh up the findings before considering whether or not to release the implementation study.


Greens boil over Conroy's Senate snub
"vonkas - that may be somewhat true, but even the Batts affair pales in Comparison to the AWB affair (feeding bribes to Suddam in breach of UN Sanctions) or the Children Overboard affair, or a ..."
By Mordd
 
 
 
Comments: 6
ITrant
Mar 17, 2010 11:31 PM
It's the Australian public's money being spent here. That study (also paid for by public money) needs to be public, no ifs or buts. The Internet is a vital service and the NBN needs to be done properly, openly and transparently. This is bad government! Vote Greens or independents.
sydneyla
Mar 18, 2010 7:14 AM
Vote for anybody EXCEPT a Government that would seek to destroy an Australian company to help them deliver an election promise. Hopefully the ACCC will act to ensure that competition is allowed and the action in the Senate forces Conroy to make the Study available for perusal by the Parliament.
vonkas
Mar 18, 2010 9:04 AM
The Rudd government has given many a new hope to get things back on track. We were hoping for honesty and integrity which was sorely missing in the Howard era. But what we see is incompetence (the batt affair), arrogance (rock star performance) and now bullying, secret agendas and coverup. Mr Rudd & cohorts - what a disappointment!
bcmobile
Mar 18, 2010 11:22 AM
If you didn't see the interview on Lateline last night, I suggest you all take a look. Conroy was so smug I nearly threw the remote at my brand new LCD.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/
anonymous
Mar 18, 2010 11:40 AM

Conboy, on Lateline, also seemed to contradict himself within two minutes, when he first said the report would be released, then said that caucus and cabinet would consider whether we should be allowed to see what's in it.
Mordd
Mar 18, 2010 4:02 PM
vonkas - that may be somewhat true, but even the Batts affair pales in Comparison to the AWB affair (feeding bribes to Suddam in breach of UN Sanctions) or the Children Overboard affair, or a number of other controverseys of the Howard era I could name right now.

Pobody said Labor was nerfect, but ill take them any day over the Liberal/National disgrace we have in Opposition.
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