GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON NBN EXPOSED

The government is refusing to release the data detailing faults, complaints and repairs on the National Broadband Network.

The government receives a monthly report from NBN Co on the status of the roll out, including the level of consumer dissatisfaction.

Appearing before the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network, representatives of the Department of the Communications declined to release the latest report, claiming it has 'Commercial-in-Confidence' status.

When Labor committee members challenged this and requested Minister Fifield authorise the release of the report today, committee chair and Liberal MP, Sussan Ley, ruled the release of the data could wait until the committee's final report.

“This is outrageous,” said Stephen Jones, the Shadow Minister for Regional Communications. “This is the oversight committee for the NBN, yet we were unable to even request the Minister release the monthly report. What is the government hiding?”

The committee routinely considers commercial-in-confidence material and respects the requirement for discretion.

“But this is information that the public has a right to know. Every day, we are seeing more and more media reports of customers dissatisfied with the service they are receiving, whether it's sub-standard speeds or faults that aren't fixed for weeks or months.”

“The government has the data detailing just how bad the situation is. The fact they are refusing to let the public have access to this information speaks volumes.”

Earlier, Paul Brooks from consumer group Internet Australia told the committee that Australia is not on track to having a world-class internet.