asked the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, in writing, on 18 August 2011:

Did the Minister or staff of the Minister's office receive a briefing, written or verbal, from the Minister's department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or a member of the selection panel regarding any of the information provided by tenderers for the Australia Network contract in their tender submissions; if so, (a) on what date, and (b) can he indicate the nature of the information provided.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

I was involved in the Cabinet discussions on the additional criterion added to the Request for Tender. Consideration is a matter of Cabinet confidentiality. I received the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) report on 31 August 2011. Actions taken are confidential to the tender process until announced.