National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the main idea of the bill, which means it can now be considered in more detail. In parliamentary jargon, they voted in favour of reading the bill a second time.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bills digest (which is a document prepared by the parliamentary library):

• The National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024 (the Bill) will repeal provisions in the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011 (NBN Co Act) which would facilitate changes to the ownership of NBN Co.

• The Bill will also amend the NBN Co Act to affirm the Government’s policy that NBN Co will remain in public ownership. In particular, it will insert new section 43A which provides that it is ‘Parliament’s intention’ that:

• the national broadband network is operated by NBN Co and

• NBN Co will remain wholly owned by the Commonwealth.

• Minor consequential amendments will also be made to the Telecommunications Act 1997.

• At the time of writing, the Bill has not been referred to or reported on by any parliamentary committee.