Labor, Greens strike NBN transparency deal

The Gillard Government and the Australian Greens have struck a deal to make the National Broadband Network subject to freedom of information (FoI) laws.

Labor previously had been opposed to such a move, arguing it would compromise the commercial confidence of the NBN Co, the company building the $36 billion network.

But Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam said the deal, struck over a fortnight of negotiations, would respect commercial sensitivity.

"FOI's got exemptions for legitimate or sensitive commercial activity," he told reporters on Thursday.

"It's taken a little while to work out the drafting. The government's been pretty reasonable."

The deal struck with communications minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, means NBN Co would be subject to similar FoI laws as any government business enterprises, like Medibank or Australia Post.

It was revealed this week that the government's lead e-health agency, the National E-Health Transition Authority, is exempt for the same laws.

The Greens' sole lower house MP, Adam Bandt, would move an amendment to existing NBN bills, possibly next week, Senator Ludlam said.

Senator Ludlam said the ideas had been floated with crossbench senators Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding.

The FoI provisions were expected to come into effect within two months.

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