From
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22459551-664,00.html

TELSTRA has warned the expert panel assessing bids for the Federal
Government's national broadband build that it must follow "best practice
tender procedures" or "be vulnerable" to a challenge.

A report by the expert taskforce, which includes businessmen Len Bleasel and
Dick Warburton, as well as telecommunication and regulatory experts,
summarises the concerns and suggestions raised by industry about the
assessment process.

The report notes that Telstra regards the process as "a competitive tender",
and that it had requested the Commonwealth's "best practice tendering
methods" be followed.

Telstra spokesman Brent Hooley said yesterday that the company was
disappointed the process does not include usual tender safeguards.

"The non-prescriptive process leaves assessment open to broad discretion,
and there is still no guarantee there will be an outcome," he said.

"Unfortunately for consumers and businesses eagerly awaiting high-speed
broadband, this process will also take a month longer than originally
proposed."