Greens may pull support for Telstra break-up bill ARI SHARP March 17, 2010 - 1:38PM
The government's broadband plans are in peril after the Greens said they would consider withdrawing their support for a crucial bill that would pave the way for the separation of Telstra.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this morning defied a Senate order to table the $25 million study into the implementation of the national broadband network, saying the government needed time to consider its contents.
The refusal prompted Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam to say the party would consider voting against the legislation, which is intended to pressure Telstra into separating its retail and wholesale operations.
''I'll wait and see whether the government makes a statement that they do intend to table the implementation study, but until then we will have to consider all our options including voting against the legislation,'' he said.
Soon after, Senator Conroy addressed the Senate to confirm he would not be complying with the order to release the report.
"The government is currently considering the implementation study (and is) accordingly not in a position to comply with the Senate order," Senator Conroy told parliament.
He accused the Coalition of hypocrisy, noting it routinely defied Senate requests to table documents when it had control of the chamber.
With the Coalition opposed to the bill, the government is relying on the Greens as well as senators Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon to pass the bill.
Senator Ludlam said that without seeing the implementation study, the Greens would be withdrawing support for future debate on telecommunications legislation, though exempted the Telstra bill, on which debate started last week.
The Senate order to produce the report has no legal force, Senator Ludlam noted it was "burning the goodwill of the crossbenchers".
"Around here these days, trust is in very short supply particularly with actions like this," he said.
Senator Conroy received the 500-page document produced by McKinsey and KPMG on March 5, but has refused to commit to releasing it publicly. He has been briefing members of cabinet on its contents, which is believed to focus on the practical issues involved in the $43 billion plan to provide 100 megabits per second connections to 90 per cent of Australian homes and businesses.
A report emerged this morning suggesting the document was based on there being no deal with Telstra, that it declares the NBN viable without Telstra, and its wholesale pricing will be lower than previous expectations.
The government has refused to comment publicly on the contents of the report.
When he explained his decision not to table the document, Senator Conroy said the government would consider it carefully before deciding its next step.
"It is not uncommon, and in fact is sensible, responsible and appropriate for governments to take some time to consider reports they receive before decisions are made about release and next steps."
"The government is considering the report carefully before making decisions about next steps."
The decision to defy the senate order means debate on the legislation is likely to remain on hold.
Senator Ludlam said the Greens would not support any future debate on telecommunications legislation until the government released the study.
"Quite frankly, theres $43 billion on the table, thats a blank cheque and the ministers asking the parliament and the public to simply trust him.
"On an infrastructure project of this scale that is just not appropriate."
Earlier in the week, Family First senator Steve Fielding said he believed a deal between the government and Telstra on the telcos assets was "imminent".
But Senator Ludlam said he doubted there would soon be a deal and that it was unlikely there would even be a vote on the legislation.
"This is a very, very important piece of information on the NBN which obviously has quite major consequences for the Telstra legislation," he 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.
"To be honest, I dont think were going to come to vote."
The study was received by the government on March 5.
Senator Conroy said it was a comprehensive document, hundreds of pages long, and dealt with the operating arrangements for NBN Co, the ownership and structure of the company and network design issues.
The study has made a "significant number" of recommendations to government, he said.
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