WITH the panel of experts’ report for the National Broadband Network tender complete; it’s crunch time.

Well you would think so anyway, but it’s not the case. The Government have decided that they will not reveal any information until they have reviewed it themselves – What ever happened to the Freedom of Information act 1982?

In a press release from the Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy today, it stated:

“The disclosure of the contents of the Panel of Experts’ report before the completion of the process, particularly any negotiation phase, has the potential to prejudice the outcome of the process. As such, the Government will not be commenting on the contents of the report.”

This reveals that the Government don’t wish to comment publicly just yet (of which is totally understandable), but what about releasing the report the public paid for with their taxes? Tech Wired will be applying for a FOI on the report to investigate why the Government is not wishing to disclose it.

I try to not get too opinionated about such things, but this, everyone should know about this report and be able to comment on it.

Conroy also stated that his Government will…

“Give this serious and detailed report careful consideration.” and that

“The Government is now considering the Panel of Experts’ report.”

You can read the full media release here

And as Mark Newton says…

” If you want to make sure that your brewery remains free of inconvenient pissups, Conroy is your go-to guy.“