The Coalition has lost a bid to force the government to publish a business case for its $43 billion national broadband network.
Malcolm Turnbull's private members bill required the government to develop a 10-year business case for the network and called for a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the network plan by the Productivity Commission.
The bill was defeated 72-73 in the lower house. Independent MP Rob Oakeshott voted with the coalition but other crossbenchers sided with the government to oppose the bill.
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard has meanwhile promised to put a fine tooth comb through the business case for the network before it's 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.
But South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon, whose vote the government needs to pass legislation enabling Telstra's involvement in the NBN, says he's annoyed the government is stalling on the business plan.
Australian Greens' communications spokesman Scott Ludlam, who introduced the motion yesterday calling for the immediate release of the business case, says it's completely unacceptable for the government to withhold material while parliament is debating the legislation.
