Law firm Minter Ellison has been awarded $330,000 worth of work with the federal broadband department for work, which appears to relate to the Tasmanian portion of the National Broadband Network roll-out.
The contract, awarded on 21 April, is for legal advice in relation to what the AusTender website describes as the "Tasmanian Broadband Project". Details of the contract are scant, with the department noting the deal was "commercial in confidence".
In last night's Budget the Federal Government revealed it would allocate $53.2 million to the NBN implementation study, which also includes legal advice for the project. A lead legal advisory firm is expected to be appointed separately to the lead consultancy for the study.
The NBN implementation study, due in early 2010, according to tender documents, will not be prepared before the proposed July 2009 start date for the Tasmanian component of the NBN.
ZDNet.com.au is attempting to contact both Minter Ellison and the office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy for comment on the contract.
