House of Representatives Committees

Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network

Resolution of Appointment

The Resolution of Appointment is the source of authority for the establishment and operations of the Committee.

(1)	that a Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network (NBN) be appointed to inquire into and report on the rollout of the NBN;
(2)	that every six months, commencing 31 August 2011, until the NBN is complete and operational, the Committee provide progress reports to both Houses of Parliament and to shareholder Ministers on:
	(a)		the rollout of the NBN, including in relation to the Government’s objective for NBN Co. Limited (NBN Co.) to:
		(i)	connect 93 per cent of Australian homes, schools and businesses with fibre-to-the premises technology providing broadband speeds of up to 100 megabits per second, with a minimum fibre coverage obligation of 90 per cent of Australian premises; and
		(ii)	service all remaining premises by a combination of next-generation fixed wireless and satellite technologies providing peak speeds of at least 12 megabits per second;
	(b)		the achievement of take-up targets (including premises passed and covered and services activated) as set out in NBN Co.’s Corporate Plan released on 20 December 2010 as revised from time to time;
	(c)		network rollout performance including service levels and faults;
	(d)		the effectiveness of NBN Co. in meeting its obligations as set out in its Stakeholder Charter;
	(e)		NBN Co.’s strategy for engaging with consumers and handling complaints;
	(f)		NBN Co.’s risk management processes; and
	(g)		Any other matter pertaining to the NBN rollout that the Committee considers relevant;
(3)	that the Committee consist of 16 members, 4 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 4 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips, and one non-aligned Member, 3 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 3 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, and one Senator to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators;
(4)	that participating members may be appointed to the committee. Participating members may participate in hearings of evidence and deliberations of the committee, and have all the rights of a member of the committee, but may not vote on any questions before the committee;
(5)	that every nomination of a member of the Committee be notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(6)	that the members of the Committee hold office as a joint standing committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time;
(7)	that the Committee elect an independent (non-aligned) member as Chair;
	(a)		that the committee elect a member as its deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting;
(8)	that, in the event of an equally divided vote, the Chair, or the Deputy Chair when acting as Chair, have a casting vote;
(9)	that five members of the Committee constitute a quorum of the Committee provided that in a deliberative meeting the quorum shall include one Government Member of either House and one non-Government Member of either House;
(10)	that the Committee have power to call for witnesses to attend and for documents to be produced;
(11)	that the Committee may conduct proceedings at any place it sees fit;
(12)	that the Committee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
(13)	that the provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.