Huawei eyes opportunities beyond 'that' NBN bid

Network equipment supplier Huawei is "extremely disappointed" with the new government's decision to keep it out of the National Broadband Network, but says its business success has "never" been dependent on winning any such work anyway.

Chairman John Lord urged staff to "hold their heads up high" and to "be proud to be Huawei", despite the NBN setback.

"Huawei's business in Australia has never been dependent on the NBN," Lord said.

"Despite the NBN decision, last year was our most successful year to date and today Huawei's Australian business is bigger than ever."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott reportedly wrote to the leader of the opposition, Bill Shorten, to advise that the Coalition would not be challenging Huawei's ban from the National Broadband Network.

Huawei was banned from bidding for NBN work in mid 2012, primarily over security concerns. But the equipment maker found the potential for a reprieve in then opposition communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, who pledged to review the ban should the Coalition come to power.

Even up until a week ago, Turnbull — now federal Communications Minister — had said Huawei was a "very credible business" and that the plan was still to review the ban.

Days later, Attorney-General George Brandis overruled Turnbull, reportedly after taking briefings from intelligence agencies over the advice they had given the previous government that led to the ban.

Turnbull said yesterday he had also received "regular technical briefings and discussions on these matters with our security agencies both before and after the election", underpinning his policy position on the issue.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Jason Clare, accused the Government of being "hopelessly divided on national security", and claimed Brandis' overrule was a "humiliating slap down" for Turnbull.