Labor frontbencher and former Labor communications minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has threatened one of NBN Co’s senior executives with a subpoena if he refuses to front another parliamentary hearing.

Conroy warned NBN Co boss Bill Morrow to expect a subpoena if the company’s chief technology officer, Dennis Steiger, failed to show up at the next hearing of the NBN select committee.



Steiger had refused to attend earlier hearings and Senate estimates on all but one occasion since his appointment mid-last year, Conroy said.



Government frontbencher Mitch Fifield reminded Conroy that no single senator had the power to compel a person to front an inquiry and a subpoena would need the support of the upper house. But that didn’t faze Conroy, who is critical of the Coalition’s handling of the national broadband network.

“I’m willing to take my roll of the dice on the floor of the Senate anytime you like,” Senator Conroy said during a budget estimates hearing on Thursday.



Morrow said NBN Co respected the committee’s request to have employees front inquiries and the company had brought “many people, for many hours” to do so.



“It just so happens that this is an exception that Mr Steiger was not able to join for this particular session,” he said on Thursday.