Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been challenged to “finish what he started” as Communications Minister and implement the 12 recommendations contained in the 2015 Regional Telecommunications Review tabled in parliament on Thursday.
Queensland primary producer lobby groups say surveys shows telecommunication infrastructure is keeping regional Queensland in the dark ages and costing primary producers millions of dollars in lost productivity.
“This review needs to be seen as a pathway forward for telecommunications in regional Queensland,” AgForce CEO Charles Burke said.
“We’ll be ensuring the federal government uses these recommendations to deliver the sort of services that will allow those living in regional Queensland to boost their business.”
The report highlights the importance of mobile coverage in regional Australia, the potential to maximise benefits from the roll-out of the NBN satellite and fixed wireless networks, and the need to develop consumer safeguards to support regional Australia.
It makes 12 key recommendations, including:
- improving the availability of mobile phone services by attracting new investment and better leveraging existing infrastructure;
- establishing measures to ensure the NBN fixed wireless and satellite networks meet the demands of consumers into the future, and;
- ensuring the funding and delivery of universal service obligations and related standards remain appropriate as consumer preferences change.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the government would give careful consideration to the committee's recommendations before providing a response.
He noted that people living in regional Australia relied heavily on telecommunications in their everyday lives.
A recent AgForce survey of 216 grain farmers and cattle and sheep producers highlighted poor mobile reception, intermittent or nil internet coverage and high costs.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation CEO Ruth Wade said rural Queenslanders running small businesses just a few kilometres from regional towns and cities were being held back because of poor telecommunication infrastructure.
“Smartphones and tablets are revolutionising farming with easy access to banking, weather, education, record keeping software, calculators and converters and even social media for news and information,” Ms Wade said.
“However limited coverage is hurting business and the cost of internet packages often exceeding $400 a month – three times the rate being paid in a regional town sometimes less than 15 minutes away.”
Several farming groups provided submissions to the Regional Telecommunications Review, calling for better coordination of infrastructure rollout, affordable options for remote communities and certainty for the NBN rollout.
“The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was responsible for the review as the Communications Minister, and given his recent elevation, we want to see momentum for change continue and we will work with Minister Mitch Fifield on how this can be implemented,” Mr Burke said.
Further information is available on the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee website at www.rtirc.gov.au.
The survey of telecommunication conducted by AgForce Queensland showed:
- 39 per cent have reliable mobile phone connection while 19.2 per cent have no mobile connection at all;
- 27 per cent of farmers surveyed rely on satellite connection, while 37 per cent had 3G coverage;
- 60 per cent of farmers spend more than $300 a month on bundled internet and phone services, while 36 per cent spend more than $400.
- Only 21 per cent of farmers were happy or very happy with their service, while 50 per cent were unhappy or very unhappy;
- 11.2 per cent of farmers have benefited from the NBN roll out;
- The most common use for smart devices was banking (90 per cent), weather information (85 per cent) and social media (63 per cent). Education, record keeping software, calculators and converters were other common uses.