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Aust Network tender process fair: Conroy

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is adamant the tender process for Australia Network is absolutely fair and above board

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is adamant the tender process for Australia Network is absolutely fair and above board despite accusations the government wants revenge against the Murdoch press.

Senator Conroy, a vocal critic of News Limited newspapers, said he was not in a position to talk about the issue at length because he was the approver of the tender process.

"I would caution people not to believe everything they read in the newspaper," he told ABC Radio on Monday, adding some of the reporting had been factually wrong.

But he did say the tender process was "absolutely" fair and above board.

The ABC and Sky are contesting the 10-year $223 million overseas television network contract which broadcasts Australia Network to 44 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

The government in June announced it would extend the ABC's existing contract for six months so it could seek additional information from the bidders in the wake of events in the Middle East.

It also announced the final decision on the contract would now rest with Senator Conroy rather than the office of Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

Sky News is part-owned by the British broadcaster BSkyB, which in turn is 39 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

Last week, The Australian - a News Limited publication - said a cabinet minister had accused ABC chief Mark Scott of inappropriate lobbying over the corporation's tender.

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: ABC, ABC, etwork, Rupert Murdoch's News

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