The Australian Greens have secured safeguards making any future privatisation of the National Broadband Network subject to a full public inquiry and vote in parliament.

"The point of this exercise is to make it as difficult as possible for a future Government to put us through a repeat of the Telstra privatisation debacle," Senator Scott Ludlam said.

"If we're going to the expense of $11 billion to bring Telstra's networks back into public hands, we'd rather not repeat the whole privatisation mess in 13 years time."

The Australian Senate has resolved that the Government should immediately provide the National Broadband Network business plan to the parliament and the public.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam successfully moved a motion demanding that communications minister Senator Stephen Conroy table the business plan and the Government's response to the McKinsey and Company and KPMG Implementation Study, effective immediately.

"We keep hearing the business plan is overflowing with good news, but the Parliament hasn't seen it.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) [5:25 PM] -I, and also on behalf of Senator Birmingham, move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy), by 17 November 2010, the following documents relating to the National Broadband Network:

(a) the National Broadband Network Business plan; and

(b) the Government's response to the McKinsey and Company and KPMG Implementation Study.

The Australian Greens will evaluate a proposed Coalition Private Members Bill which demands a detailed 10-year business plan for the National Broadband Network and a number of other measures, before committing to a vote.

"The Australian Greens Party Room will consider whether this is a serious bid for relevance and transparency, or another in a long line of Coalition delaying tactics designed to destroy the network," said Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302 

The Australian Greens have welcomed the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull to the Communications shadow ministry portfolio and warned the Abbott Opposition against playing political wrecking tactics with the crucial issue of building a National Broadband Network.

Scott Ludlam speaks to Phil Dobbie for ZDNet about NBN post election http://www.zdnet.com.au/much-cheaper-nbn-wins-it-by-a-whisker-339305883.htm

Senator Ludlam asked:
When do you expect to have the modelling finished?

Answer:

NBN Co expects to have some preliminary data collection and modelling available by end July
2010 but this data will then need careful interrogation and scenario testing before we can accept it
as fit for purpose. This may take a further several months to complete.

Budget Estimates Hearings May 2010 Question 120