Senate plans Quigley wrecking-ball for Estimates

By Ry Crozier on Jun 9, 2011 4:42 PM
Filed under Telco/ISP

More bribery talk.

NBN Co chief Mike Quigley faces groundhog day at Senate Estimates next week after the Coalition all but confirmed they would attempt to derail the hearing with another Alcatel bribery grilling.

Speaking on Perth's 6PR radio, opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said he thought Quigley had "quite a bit of explaining to do", despite months of denials of direct involvement in the scandal.

Asked what was likely to happen in the Senate next week, when Quigley fronts a late-night Estimates sitting, Turnbull said: "Well, I think he's going to be invited to give a full and frank explanation [t]here.

"And you know Senator Conroy will say this is a witch hunt, and we're trying to smear him and really nobody is," Turnbull said.

"He [Quigley] really needs to actually put all of the facts on the table."

Turnbull had previously told Quigley at an NBN Co transparency review in Sydney that he was satisfied the NBN Co chief had told the truth.

The re-surfacing of the issue came as NBN Co appeared close to finalising a complex deal with Telstra.

News reports indicated that the multi-billion dollar deal could close sometime next week.

But it did not rate a mention on 6PR, where talk concentrated on a news report that compared NBN Co's low number of "subscribers" with the salary expenses of employees, and Quigley's knowledge of a bribery scandal at Alcatel while he was an executive of the vendor.

The NBN technically has no subscribers, only triallists.

Turnbull said Quigley should have had the "candour and openness" to give the Government a "heads up" on the SEC investigation before he was hired to NBN Co's top job.

NBN Co appears before Senate Estimates from 7pm on Thursday 16 July.

Senate plans Quigley wrecking-ball for Estimates

23 comments in this discussion

"@BrettWinterford - Senate Estimates is exactly the place to dig up old arguments. Consider the alternative, a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of the NBN, Quigley's past and the resulting ..."

By peterhau

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Comments: 23

BrettWinterford Jun 9, 2011 4:57 PM	This sort of talk isn't helpful at all. Senate Estimates should be used to investigate the Telstra agreement, not to dig up old arguments.
HubertCumberdale Jun 9, 2011 6:52 PM	A smear campaign is exactly what this is. Absolutely disgusting, the coalition should be ashamed of themselves they always harp on about "stopping the waste" but it's perfectly fine for them to waste everyone's time and money. I hope Australia is not fooled by this pathetic stalling tactic.
anonymous Jun 9, 2011 6:55 PM	If the FODs (in this case, Forces Of Darkness) try to turn the Senate Estimates into a cheap and nasty political witchhunt against Mike Quigley, they will condemn themselves from their own mouths. It's legitimate to turn the heat up on Conroy, if that is what floats their boat, but it is not OK to use parliamentary privilege to smear a commercial manager who cannot respond in kind. They might be more credible if they could demonstrate they had some idea what they were talking about on NBN. Until they can do that, it might look as if in their case FODs actually stood for F---ing Old Dickheads. ;-)
Tailgator Jun 9, 2011 7:45 PM	Absolutely pathetic Malcolm. In the absence of any comprehensive Coalition BB policy (other than 'It's too expensive, why pay for a Ferrari when a Commodore will do, we'll all be roon'd, and, let's incentivize - read subsidize - private industry') you continue to try and conduct a smear campaign directed at the professional reputation of an individual in the hope of advancing your personal and political party objectives. Kev's ute ring a bell ?? Same tactics, same objectives. Perhaps one should also demand a full inquiry into the Godwin Grech affair. And why not demand the same standards of accountability ?? Or would that raise issues of double standards and hypocrisy ?? Regardless, the Coalition attempts to gain political advantage by attempting to smear and besmirch the reputation of a corporate individual is beyond contempt. (Oh, and I don't recall such questions regarding Sol Trujillo who was appointed CEO of Telstra under the then Liberal govt's watch, despite more than ample cause for questioning - QWest, Graviton, the latter since removed from his resume - sound reasonable??) No Malcolm. You and the rest of your Coalition cohorts are engaged in a witch hunt, using gutter politics of the lowest kind and in the absence of any substantial evidence or alternative, in an attempt to further your own ambitions. Not only transparent, but absolutely pathetic, appalling, and disgusting. How shallow, how contemptible. Crawl back underneath whatever slime covered rock you came from and spare us both you and your colleagues poisoning of the spirit of political processes. Begone foul blight.
singo79 Jun 9, 2011 10:43 PM	@BrettWinterford +1 @HubertCumberdale +1 @anonymous +1 @Tailgator +1 All well said and all right on the money. The whole purpose of the Senate Estimates Committee is to discuss financial matters surrounding Government expenditure, not to target and slander an individual for something that Alcatel and the US Government have cleared Mike Quigley of. Really? Do Australians believe half the dribble coming out of the Coalition's mouth when it comes to the NBN and especially Mike Quigley? Honestly, if they do then the average Australia truly is a dumb and ignorant person indeed and it kind of makes me feel sad to be Australian. Get on with the job of reviewing the numbers, making sure budgets and contracts are acceptable and ensuring that the project is delivered for a reasonable price. Not slander, waste time and big note yourselves.... Yes I'm talking to you Malcolm and the rest of the Coalation halfwits!
umbria Jun 9, 2011 11:49 PM	Dear Malcolm Turnbull, I am just one of millions of taxpayers who are paying for the parliamentary resources that you are wasting. I think it is time for an FOI request into the cost of the debates you have hijacked and extended since 2009 to stall this critical national infrastructure. I suspect the cost is in excess of one billion dollars, but it could be a fair bit higher than that. You have wasted so much money with your arrogance (as Penny Wong and Kevin Rudd did scandalously dragging the ETS through Senate rejections three times), and you and Tony Abbott must be accountable for this deliberate waste. In the meantime, you have added at least six months to the commencement of agreements, pushing the delivery dates of our network back as well. It was impossible to lose the 2010 election until Tony announced his rubbish broadband policy six days before the election, which cost you three regional seats and outright victory. In the following weeks you persisted with your anti-fibre and anti-Telstra-separation mantra, costing you the independents' support, which they wanted to give. We now have a Green-Labor government thanks to your intransigence on the NBN. For once take a bipartisan position on this important project, and stop wasting tax dollars on your shabby one-upmanship. And as you agreed in Sydney, it is quite obvious that the allegations against Mike Quigley are trumped up. But he is doing a great job on the NBN, therefore you are going to indulge in some character assassination as well, with the tax-funded meter running on the parliamentary staff to operate your soapbox. Shame on you, Malcolm. Shame.
Rossyduck Jun 10, 2011 9:26 AM	Having lived in a totalitarian country all I can say is "Well done, Keep it up Malcolm !". Whether I agree with your views or not, people like you are why I returned to Australia. Do not be put off by the brickbats of those seduced at the prospect of faster porn or whatever other selfish short term benefit they see. And expand your digging - look into the order for equipment that had not been developed yet, the behind closed doors agreements with Silcar contrary to the tender, the failed Greenfields tender, the rural services con etc. There is lots that stinks and for which we would like answers. NBN Co might be setup as a private company, but it is bankrolled by our taxes - again taking me back to totalitarian regimes, with their command economies and senseof righteousness to act in their percieved common good, whateve the means.
Tailgator Jun 10, 2011 9:53 AM	@ Rossyduck Oh dear, totalitarianism and porn. Is that the best you can do ?? I suspect the stink is of your own making.
gijones10 Jun 10, 2011 10:36 AM	Personally I am sick of hearing about this issue. If there was something to these allegations I am fairly certain the Coalition would have dug it up by now. I like Malcom Turnbull but I wish he would just leave this alone already. I agree with the comment above, if the Coalition hadn't been so dead set against the NBN in the last election then they probably would have won easily. They would have had my vote.
HubertCumberdale Jun 10, 2011 12:20 PM	yeah totalitarianism ftw... we've hit the deep end now people, forget the white elephants lol. Seriously sounds like some people dont understand or respect the democratic process here, if you are unhappy with the NBN going ahead simply vote for the coalition clowns at the next election and if they lose please continue bitching about it relentlessly for the next 3 years as everyone else laughs at you.
anonymous Jun 10, 2011 6:42 PM	@Ross, you have been good enough to tell us in other posts of your involvement in the industry, so perhaps you might also be good enough to recognise, privately at least, that you have what should be a declared interest. Statements against NBN Co to the effect that "it is bankrolled by our taxes" are wrong in both the corporate and political senses, and may not advance your case very much here where the participants are industry tech people who know which way is up.
sydneyla Jun 12, 2011 9:02 AM	People in a free country have the opportunity to ask questions. Some here seem to prefer the burn the books or abuse those who may have a differing opinion. I think Mike Quigley is doing a good job for NBN Co but people should be free to ask questions. The truth will set you free. All should remember that. I do question one of Mr Quigleys appointments however, and that is the person who was run out of Queensland because of vote rigging and then given a $400,000+ job at the NBN Co by his political mates.
Tailgator Jun 12, 2011 8:21 PM	@sydney lawrence So does the 'free country' 'ask questions' mandate include the deliberate denigration of personal and professional reputations by smear and innuendo ?? The truth may well set you free, but the tactics employed by the Liberal/National party coalition amply demonstrate an attempt to gain power by whatever means necessary, regardless of principles. That path will definitely not set anyone 'free'. Just debase the very principles of the democracy which you so often (when convenient) espouse. YOU should remember that.
HubertCumberdale Jun 13, 2011 1:47 AM	sydneyla wrote: People in a free country have the opportunity to ask questions. Some here seem to prefer the burn the books or abuse those who may have a differing opinion. and then we have people like you who cry foul whenever someone who has a differing opinion dare to question and call out those that have flimsy arguments. You people are all the same, you want to silence people because you know you are wrong but instead of debating the issues with facts you resort to these tactics over trivial issues (you did it on ZDnet too). Newsflash: it doesn't work on me, I'll call you out every single time too.
sydneyla Jun 13, 2011 7:54 AM	I notice no defence of the purpose of my Post concerning the delivery of a $400,000+ dollar a year job, to a person with questionable history in Queensland, by political mates while at the same time the NBN Co calls for low paid future workers to tighten their belts and restrict pay levels. Where is you honesty and truthfulness here? I do not consider asking questions,that may be uncomfortable for some,to be 'smear and innuendo' but simply an application of our freedoms gained after great struggle by our forebears. And as a matter of interest Hubert who are the 'you people' you speak of but fail to identify? Every Australian should remember that our liberty depends on the freedom of absolute free speech which cannot be limited without being lost.
HubertCumberdale Jun 13, 2011 11:37 AM	sydneyla wrote: I notice no defence of the purpose of my Post concerning the delivery of a $400,000+ dollar a year job, to a person with questionable history in Queensland, by political mates while at the same time the NBN Co calls for low paid future workers to tighten their belts and restrict pay levels. Are you specifically asking me? Whoever that person is should be fired and the fibre roll-out should continue. Happy now? sydneyla wrote: Where is you honesty and truthfulness here? I do not consider asking questions,that may be uncomfortable for some,to be 'smear and innuendo' but simply an application of our freedoms gained after great struggle by our forebears. I see so "smear and innuendo" is simply an application of our freedoms? Sure but then there are facts and then there are lies, if you have an "uncomfortable" fact you speak up if not then it is just speculation and/or slander. sydneyla wrote: And as a matter of interest Hubert who are the 'you people' you speak of but fail to identify? I wasn't talking about anyone specically, the internet is a big place, I post on many forums and come across people like you all the time. They are unable to debate on a level playing field so they'll say someone is troll to silence them. I've seen it all before. Your tactics are not much different. sydneyla wrote: Every Australian should remember that our liberty depends on the freedom of absolute free speech which cannot be limited without being lost. You're a fucking idiot. I'm being honest and truthful... Freedom of absolute free speech baby!
sydneyla Jun 13, 2011 2:55 PM	Hubert you identify yourself as an idiot one eyed ocker redneck with little intelligence or debating qualities. Sorry the truth probably hurts.
HubertCumberdale Jun 13, 2011 4:31 PM	sydneyla wrote: Hubert you identify yourself as an idiot one eyed ocker redneck with little intelligence or debating qualities. False. sydneyla wrote: Sorry the truth probably hurts. Yes certainly does it seems, even though this is basically an admission that you are a hypocrite it seems you've missed the point of my post... I'm not surprised, thanks for stopping by!
sydneyla Jun 13, 2011 6:03 PM	O.K. Hubert no offence meant or taken. I didn't know that the person of whom I spoke was you brother in law. lol.
sydneyla Jun 14, 2011 7:55 AM	Hey Hubert after revision of your recent Post I now realise that the subtle meaning of your written words were not meant as I perceived them. Sorry.
HubertCumberdale Jun 14, 2011 2:36 PM	Sure Sydney I believe you are sincere lol. My posts are textual artworks btw.
sydneyla Jun 15, 2011 10:40 AM	Hubert, your endeavour to obtain excellence in your delivery of the written word has taken a severe setback with your inclusion of 'lol' (smart alec remark) that was a direct reflection on your sincerity and fell way short of your usual textual artworks.
peterhau Jun 15, 2011 11:48 AM	@BrettWinterford - Senate Estimates is exactly the place to dig up old arguments. Consider the alternative, a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of the NBN, Quigley's past and the resulting stalling of the delivery of a potentially revolutionary service that will benefit all australians, not just those in metro areas. The costs that a commission would incur would make it impossible for the taxpayer to see the benefit of the technology.