Australia: Opposition wants to assess the national broadband network proposals

[abc] The Federal Opposition has introduced legislation that would require Infrastructure Australia to assess the Government's $43 billion national broadband network proposal.

The Government has repeatedly refused the Opposition's calls for a cost-benefit analysis of building a fibre-to-the-premises network.

Instead, it says it is carrying out an implementation study to work out how to fund the project.

Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin says the proposal should be assessed by the Government's infrastructure advisory body.

"It is extraordinary that the Government would come out and propose the biggest spend on infrastructure in this country's history - no less than $43 billion - but arrogantly refuse our demands that it be subject to cost benefit analysis," he said.

Mr Minchin says the Government's approach is arrogant.

"Taxpayers should know whether they're going to get value for money from this massive spend by subjecting this to the very criteria which the Government itself has set up for every other infrastructure project in this country," he said.

Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam says he wants to see the details of the Opposition's plan before his party decides whether to support it in the Senate.

"This is huge public investment and the Greens will consider any proposal to inject greater accountability and transparency into the process," Senator Ludlam said in a statement.

Opposition wants leash on $43b broadband plan