conroy�s nbn ploy fails

The NBN bills passed the Senate last night after a marathon sitting, this was after the Communications Minister upset parliament by bringing forward 35 amendments to an NBN access bill.

These would allow NBN to have right of veto over any ACCC decision.

But Senator Xenophon and others overrode Conroys ploy, so that normal ACCC oversight rules prevail with the NBN.

Senator Conroy later put out a media release on the passing of the NBN vote. But this media release failed to mention how earlier in the day, the minister took issue with National Senate leader Barnaby Joyce's call for unit pricing regulations so satellite and wireless services in remote areas could be delivered at the same price as high-speed optical fibres in major cities.

Something which has always been implied in the operation of the NBN.

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said Senator Conroy created an enormous legislative challenge with his rush of amendments.

"This is a big deal but the government is making it up as it goes along, it is chaotic, it is dysfunctional," he said.