Water utilities caught up in National Broadbank Network

Water utilities along with energy and telecommunications companies could be forced to hand over confidential information to the Government under the first piece of legislation in the national broadband network process, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The information relates to their infastructure, which many utilities have been securing since the increased emphasis on terrorism in the last ten years. The bill is a reworking of the access rules by which companies bidding last year for the right to build the network were entitled to information from other telecommunications firms so they could compile their bid.

The information would need to be provided to "an entrusted public official", which could include a minister, secretary of department, Commonwealth officers or people acting as consultants to the Commonwealth. The Water Services Association said it would not object to the bill as long as the cost of providing information was not too great. The Energy Networks Association said the confidentiality of any information provided "will be key."