Mr. Turnbull Questions NBN’s Hiring of Bespoke, Warns of Board Change

Members of the NBN Co board may soon receive their walking papers if and when a coalition is elected into office, according to Malcolm Turnbull.

In an interview with Nine Network’s Financial Review, Mr. Turnbull criticised the board, saying it had very litle experience with telecommunication.

He said, “It is remarkable that such a large board has no one with hands-on experience building or running a telecommunications network. People can draw their own conclusions from that.”

Siobhan McKenna, the NBN chair, has been reported to have recently hired Bespoke Approach, a known lobbying firm. Others say Bespoke is there to help NBN’s board smoothen up its business relationship with coalition MPs in an effort to save their jobs, especially since there’s a chance of a change in government after the elections.

Bespoke Approach is a company set up by former politicians Alexander Downer, Ian Smith and Nick Bolkus.

News of hiring the firm has had quarters wondering if NBN Co is misusing taxpayer’s money. But a spokesperson for NBN said that it had always been in the habit of hiring advisers and strategic planners for their business’ improvements.

Meanwhile, as the chief executive of NBN Co made official his plans to leave the company last Friday, Mr. Turnbull said that Mike Quigley had actually been fired by Ms. McKenna.

Among projects that Mr. Quigley leaves behind include a $37.4 billion infrastructure development, which should bring fiber optics internet to millions of Australians. This project, however, is reportedly behind schedule already as management has been besieged with development and construction problems.