By Dominique Tassell
The Regional Telecommunications Review is currently underway, with submissions open until 30 September.
The Review is “an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services in their area” and is undertaken every three years.
Former Nationals MP and Chair of the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, Luke Hartsuyker, spoke at the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network Annual Conference about the importance of regional telecommunications.
He stated that “there are a number of key changes that have occurred since the last Review”.
He highlighted the increased importance of communications systems in our economy and community, stating it’s on par with electricity nowadays.
“When the communications system goes down, business stops, and people are isolated – and potentially in danger – as in recent bush fires, floods, and cyclones.”
Mr Hartsuyker stated that “in 2021 we not only need to keep the lights going, but we also need to keep the data flowing”.
He stated that more people are now working from home and less people are using cash, with Covid-19 accelerating these trends.
“These days, you need to scan a QR code to enter a shop to buy a loaf of bread,” he said.
He stated that the pandemic “has led to awakening the potential of regional Australia”.
“There is almost no limit to what you can achieve in a regional area compared to a city location.
“But only if you have access to first-class communications services.”
Mr Hartsuyker also highlighted the importance of communications systems during natural disasters.
He stated that “a seemingly unending list of natural disasters across the nation has placed our communications network, and our infrastructure systems more generally, under great strain”.
“Outages of days and weeks in the 21st century are not something we can readily sustain.”
He recounted how during the 2019 Bushfires, people without cash were left unable to pay for petrol and stranded in fire zones unable to drive to safety.
While governments and telecommunication companies have responded to these weakness, Mr Hartsuyker said there “is still much work to do in this space”.
Finally, Mr Hartsuyker highlighted how the current NBN rollout in regional Australia may not considered more remote areas.
“Further out, where low population densities struggle to support high capacity telecommunications infrastructure, the needs of a technology hungry agricultural sector and significant regional businesses cannot be ignored.”
He stated that increasingly impressive agriculture technology demands are raising the bar with regards to what our communications system must deliver.
“If these businesses are to succeed in ever more competitive world markets, and they are often price takers, they must have access to competitive communications at a competitive price,” he stated.
Mr Hartsuyker also stated that with government services increasingly going online, such as JobActive, it is imperative that individuals be connected as well.
“The digital divide presents a significant barrier to the move to online service delivery, and many of our most disadvantaged, who require government services, live in rural and remote areas.”
He stated that while services have improved in rural and remote areas, there is still work to do.
You can have your say at www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/2021-regional-telecommunications-review with entries closing on 30 September.
