$11m-plus for broadband consultants

Although the Government is yet to announce which company will build one of its most ambitious projects, $4 million has been paid to consulting firms and another $7.7 million has been allocated for their services in the next five months.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is the recipient of the largest amount of money, charging the Government $4 million for its legal advice.

"Before a hole has been dug or a network builder chosen, we learn the only big winners to date from the national broadband network have been the lawyers and consultants," the Opposition's communications spokesman, Nick Minchin, said.

"This tender process has been mismanaged from the beginning. We have already seen several delays and the longer this drags out the more these costs are going to mount. Thus far, the Rudd Government has burnt up millions of dollars of taxpayers' money on admin, consultancy and legal costs and there is no actual start date in sight."

The cost of the consultants' fees were supplied to the Opposition by the Government through the Senate committee process. The Minister for Communications, Stephen Conroy, last week received a report from an independent panel that rated the competing bids.

Federal cabinet is expected to soon decide which company will be given the contract to deliver faster internet services to 98 per cent of the country. The project could cost as much as $10 billion, including a contribution of $4.7 billion from the Government.

The project has already been controversial after Telstra failed to lodge a full bid late last year and was excluded from the process. But Telstra could still re-enter the process. It argues it is the only company with the capability to build a truly national network.

The Opposition has called on the Government to release the independent panel's report.