Harrison Young, chairman of the NBN is reportedly scheduled to step down today. Source: Supplied
SENATOR Conroy's office has confirmed the resignation of NBN chairman Harrison Young.
Siobhan McKenna, NBN board member and Ten Network Holdings director has been confirmed as his replacement.
In a joint release from Senator Conroy and Penny Wong, it was explained that Mr Young's contract expired on the 14th of March.
"Mr Young has decided not to stand for reappointment," the statement read.
Ms Wong said that Ms McKenna brought "extensive experience to the role".
"Her expertise will help guide the NBN Co as it rolls out the NBN," she said.
Mike Quigley, CEO of the NBN welcomed Ms McKenna and said he looked forward to working closely with her over the coming weeks and months.
The announcement came just minutes before a press conference was due to be held by the NBN at 4pm. Some people are calling the timing of the press conference (which is happening just half an hour before the Australian Labor leadership spill) as "opportunistic".
Gizmodo editor, Luke Hopewell tweeted that the NBN was embracing "Take Out The Trash day", a term coined by popular TV show, The West Wing. It is used to describe a tactic where politicians release all their bad news on a Friday because "nobody reads newspapers on the weekend".
In this case we're a few days early, but the point is still a valid one.
Author of the Good Gear Guide, Campbell Simpson tweeted that it was more reminiscent of "Big Block of Cheese Day", another West Wing reference describing former President Andrew Jackson's decision to put a big block of cheese in the lobby of the white house for any and all who wished to ease their hunger. It was a metaphoric name given by fictitious white house chief of staff Leo McGarry, to a day where staff close to the Oval Office hold meetings with people who have a hard time getting the ear of the president.
However, Mr Quigley denied the claims, saying though it was “reasonable” for people to be cynical, the answer was “no”.
“We had a board meeting scheduled today,” he said. “The board had to approve the forecasting. It’s a major event.”
“I notice the press was in fact full of predictions of this release being imminent.
“I can assure you the events taken place today have no connection to the process we were going through at all. I think there is enough rumour out there in the media there shouldn't have been any surprise that we came out to day with the announcement.”
