Deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop - the other Bishop - moves to suspend standing orders.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
TheAustralian Financial Review reported on Monday that ASIO advice provided the basis for the ban. A spokesman for Attorney-General Nicola Roxon told AAP the $36 billion NBN was the''backbone of Australia's information infrastructure''and as such the government had a responsibility''to do our utmost to protect its integrity and that of the information carried on it''.
''This is consistent with the government's practice for ensuring the security and resilience of Australia's critical infrastructure more broadly,''the spokesman said.
Former Victoria premier John Brumby and navy veteran John Lord are board members of Huawei Australia,along with former foreign minister Alexander Downer.Credit:Wayne Taylor WMT
The minister has declined to comment on confidential discussions with Huawei. The federal parliamentary interests register shows Huawei has been courting senior coalition figures. The register shows Huawei's Australian arm sponsored trips by the opposition's deputy leader Julie Bishop,finance spokesman Andrew Robb and frontbencher Bronwyn Bishop to China over the past eight months.
Julie Bishop's trip included a flight from Perth to Hong Kong,then from Shenzhen to Shanghai and a rail trip from Shanghai to Beijing,as well as accommodation from January 4 to 9. She was also given a Huawei MediaPad tablet computer.
Mr Robb and a staffer were guests of Huawei on a trip from December 13 to 19 to Hong Kong and China,which included free transport and hospitality. Bronwyn Bishop's trip to Singapore and China,which included business class travel and accommodation paid for by Huawei,was from August 1 to 6,2011. A Huawei Australia spokesman told AAP it had issued an open invitation to all members of parliament,and the media,to tour its facilities.
''We haven't targeted one party over another,''the spokesman said. He also said former Labor premiers Kristina Keneally and John Brumby,who now sits on the company's Australian board,had also been on sponsored trips.