056/06
20 June 2006

Recovery action against deregistered HiBIS Provider BushCom

The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts is taking steps to recover debts owed to the Australian Government under the HiBIS program by deregistered HiBIS provider BushCom Pty Ltd.

BushCom has entered into liquidation.

The Australian Government is actively considering all legal avenues in response to these circumstances.

BushCom was deregistered in early December 2005 after adverse independent audit findings indicated that it had not been providing HiBIS services in accordance with its HiBIS Funding Agreement with the Australian Government.

The Department was advised in March 2006 that BushCom had been purchased by Commercial Capital Pty Limited.

The Australian Government has since been monitoring developments closely to assess the likelihood of a commercial solution that could have minimised the Government’s loss and avoided further disruption to customers.

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that any impact on consumers is minimised as much as possible and will endeavour to facilitate connection with an alternative Broadband Connect provider for all eligible affected customers.

The Department will contact BushCom customers advising them of the developments with BushCom and confirming their eligibility for services from alternative providers under the HiBIS program (now Broadband Connect). 

The Department has also established a hotline for affected customers.

BushCom customers can contact 1800 883 488 during business hours EST for further information.