Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 29 August 2011:

With reference to the answer to question no. 321 taken on notice during the 2011-12 Budget estimates hearings of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee in May 2011, does the term 'security checks' mean 'appropriate security clearances'.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

The requirements for the appointment of directors to the NBN Co board are as set out by the Corporations Act (2001); Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act (1997); Governance Arrangements for Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises (June 1997); Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidelines for significant government appointments; and the NBN Co Company Constitution. NBN Co Board members are subject to a range of security checks appropriate for a non-executive director appointment. This does not require the obtaining of a security clearance that Australian Government employees are required to obtain.