24th Mar 2011, 7:46 PM – Senate National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 and related bill — In Committee - Supply on wholesale basis only

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham, which means that it was rejected. The amendment would have inserted a provision into the bill that requires the supply of eligible services to be on a wholesale basis.(Read Senator Birmingham's explanation of his amendment and the related debate here, after 4:57 pm. )

Background to the bills

The National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 ('NBN Co bill') was introduced with the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network Measures-Access Arrangements) Bill 2010 ('Telecommunications bill').

The NBN Co bill establishes a regulatory framework for ownership, governance and operation of the NBN Co and its subsidiary corporations.(Read more about the NBN Co bill in its bills digest. ) The NBN Co was created to build and operate the National Broadband Network ('NBN'), a key Labor Government policy.

The Telecommunications bill supports the NBN Co bill by, among other things: supporting the rollout of NBN-consistent fibre to the premises networks in new real estate developments and placing certain obligations on the supply of wholesale services by an NBN corporation.(Read more about the Telecommunications bill in its bills digest.)