June 11, 2018
The Federal Government has announced Round 4 of its Mobile Black Spot Program which aims to improve telecommunications in regional Australia.
Regional Communications Minister Bridget McKenzie said on Sunday the government would invest $25 million to improve coverage in black spot areas.
“The new round will call for applications from mobile carriers within the coming months, taking input from State, Territory and local governments, as well as businesses, community organisations and emergency services,” Ms McKenzie said.
“The rollout of base stations under previous rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program is over halfway complete, delivering benefits to hundreds of communities throughout Australia by connecting them to essential business, education and health services.”
AgForce spokesperson Georgie Somerset said the need for more affordable and reliable phone and internet services was one of the biggest issues for people living, working and travelling in the bush.
“We were disappointed there was no new commitment to further address mobile phone black spots in this year’s Federal Budget so the announcement yesterday of a fourth round is very welcome,” she said.
“Phone and internet services are an economic and social lifeline for regional, rural and remote Queenslanders and need to be more reliable and affordable.”
She said the $25 million had been “re-purposed” from existing programs to improve coverage in black spot areas.
Mrs Somerset said the focus of this round would be to improve phone coverage along transport routes, in small communities and tourism hotspots with seasonal demand.
“AgForce will be lobbying Minister McKenzie to ensure this next round will go to areas of Queensland that have missed out on funding from the program so far,” she said.
“A member telecommunications survey undertaken by AgForce in 2015 showed just 39 per cent had reliable mobile phone connections, while almost 20 per cent had no mobile connection at all.
“Agriculture is the fastest growing industry in Australia and one in seven jobs in Queensland was either partially or entirely supported by the food sector so an investment in agriculture is an investment in the nation’s future.”
