Labor engaged in secretive politics

[Sappho]

But during a feisty Estimates hearing last night, Coalition senators pressed Mr Quigley to say how much it had cost to roll out the NBN in Tasmania.

Mr Quigley would not reveal the figures because he said it would be taken out of context.

But he said the program was on time and slightly under budget.

"There's a backhaul component which you share in a much bigger population than just those three communities, so it's a completely distorted picture to add the two together and divide by the number of customers. It's just a nonsense," he said.

The Opposition is pressing the Government to reveal the NBN's business plan and during angry scenes in the Estimates hearing, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy accused the Coalition of trying to "sabotage" the NBN.

Mr Quigley will present a business plan to the NBN company board this Friday and the Government will get a look at the figures next week.

It is not yet known when the Government will make the business plan public.

The Government has however confirmed it has had the Governor-General sign a decree exempting the NBN from scrutiny by parliament's Public Works Committee.

source

I am very interested in knowing what left leaning members think of this. Do govt have a right to hide important policy details from their citizens?

[Jovial Monk]

Mr Quigley will present a business plan to the NBN company board this Friday and the Government will get a look at the figures next week.

Let us let this normal business practice play out, eh?

[Sappho]

Mr Quigley will present a business plan to the NBN company board this Friday and the Government will get a look at the figures next week.

Let us let this normal business practice play out, eh?

The govt is not in business JM and that is why they have different accountability processes. Govt is into Nation Building and so needs to be transparent so that the Citizens of the Nation being Built are informed.

The Government has however confirmed it has had the Governor-General sign a decree exempting the NBN from scrutiny by parliament's Public Works Committee.

How do you feel about the Government's accountability processes being denied access to Public Work Projects such as the NBN?

[Jovial Monk]

There is a process so let the board consider the business case then alter it if they wish then present it to the govt.

NBN Co is a company, not sure how the Public Works committee applies to companies. Did Qantas, when in govt hands, have to submit plans to buy more aircraft? Did the CBA have to refer plans to buy real estate etc to the Public Works Committee? No doubt NBN Co has to report regularly to the Minister & Parliament. How many such decrees have been issued in the past?

[Sappho]

They are all good questions JM. Do you know the answers?

[Jovial Monk]

I don’t!

The other fact is, NBN Co is not funded by taxpayers to any major extent, being funded mainly by infrastructure bonds—excuse me for not knowing the exact breakup taxpayer/bonds.

Some of the complexity: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1284034 a huge private (i.e. non govt—non NBN Co) discussion on GPON. WDM PON (I dunno what that is either and Point to Point.

[Sappho]

I don’t!

Well then, I think you should find out. It is rather critical to your opinions. First, you are saying that corporate business processes are good enough for nation building enterprises. Second you're implying that govt practises are so often over ruled or otherwise laborious that they are best to be over ruled again. There are a lot of assumptions in there that you don't know the answer to, that we don't know the answer to, and so we cannot say if your view is valid or not.

Moreover, you do realise that your view accepts the idea of reducing govt transparency. Why do you find that acceptable?

[Jovial Monk]

Nonono I mean that proper process be followed re the business case going first to the NBN Co board, be discussed/changed maybe within NBN Co and then be submitted to the govt. I do think it should be publicly released.

However, you are the one accusing the govt of secretive processes so you answer the questions and tell us if they are or not.

[Sappho]

However, you are the one accusing the govt of secretive processes so you answer the questions and tell us if they are or not.

My view does not require it from me. My view quite simply is in support of govt processes ensuring govt transparency. That Gillard has sort GG approval to discount one of those transparency processes is all the evidence I need to show that my view which is also KRudd's view and promise to the people, has been disregarded.

[Jovial Monk]

Whatever.