PM vows to put fine tooth comb through NBN

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has promised to put a fine tooth comb through the business case for the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) before it is publicly released.

The government is rebuffing a motion passed in the Senate for the 400-page document to be released during the November sitting of parliament, and has instead offered a confidential briefing to crossbench legislators.

This has annoyed South Australian independent senator, Nick Xenophon, whose vote the government needs to pass legislation enabling Telstra's involvement in the NBN.

Every day the government held up releasing the plan was a day its case was diminished, he said.

"I would have thought the government would have got that by now," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"The government can expect a much rockier ride with its legislation unless the business plan is released in the next couple of days."

But Ms Gillard said she disagreed with Senator Xenophon, arguing it was absolutely proper and appropriate to release the case in December.

"The government has received an extensive business case, it's more than 400 pages," she told ABC Radio.

"It obviously contains... detailed work and we are going to put a fine tooth comb through it."

Australian Greens communications spokeperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, who introduced the motion on Wednesday calling for the immediate release of the business case, said it was "completely unacceptable" for the government to withhold material while parliament is debating the legislation.

Senator Ludlam said the government was taking a risky stance because time was running out to pass the legislation before the end of parliamentary sittings next week.

"The government is on a very short timeline," he told ABC Radio.

"That's why I don't understand why they seem to have quite deliberately burnt the goodwill of the people who they will rely in the Senate and the House of Reps to pass their bill."

The coalition joined forces with the Greens and Senator Xenophon on Wednesday to pass the motion.

Opposition broadband spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, said the government was withholding important information.

"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 told reporters in Canberra.

Broadband Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has offered the Greens and independents a confidential briefing on the business plan next week.

But Mr Turnbull said this idea was an insult, accusing the government of wanting to release the business case over summer when voters were less focused on politics.

The government will face more pressure on Thursday when South Australian Liberal, Senator Mary Jo Fisher, moves a motion calling for an uncensored version of the Broadband Department's 248-page "red book" given to Labor after the election.

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