Parliament cannot discharge its duty: Turnbull

19.11.2010
Labor's decision to withhold the release of the National Broadband Network (NBN) business case is resulting in the Parliament being unable to discharge its duty, according to Opposition communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

In a doorstop interview, Turnbull claimed the government's decision to not provide the business plan until after the Parliament had risen, demonstrated that it wanted to resist any scrutiny.

"... I ask this to all members of the Parliament: How can we, any of us -- Coalition, Labor, crossbenchers -- how can any of us discharge our duty to the Australian people by approving such a massive project without any financial information about it?" he said.

"...I do not see how the House or the Senate, members of any chamber, can responsibly deal with this project without really understanding the financial consequences, the economics of the project. It is incredible."

Turnbull added that news, detailed by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, this morning, on the NBN business plan would be offered to key Senators, was an "insult."