❓ Hon. Paddy Embry raises concerns about inequitable mobile phone service funding in rural areas, where local shires face significant costs compared to city areas. Hon. Ken Travers acknowledges the issue, blaming the Commonwealth's lack of universal service obligation and advocating for a more equitable solution.
AnsweredQoN 1412Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES, RURAL AREAS 1412. Hon PADDY EMBRY to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for State Development: Some rural shires such as that at Boyup Brook must pay a $10 000 fee or sometimes a fee of up to $20 000 to finance towers to receive mobile telephone signals. In city areas, the total cost of a tower of $250 000 is paid by the state and federal Governments, and Telstra. However, the total cost of a tower is not paid by these agencies for people living in the country. In rural areas the State Government, the federal Government and Telstra each pays approximately $80 000 and country shire councils contribute $10 000, depending on the agreed arrangements. How can this situation be made more equitable? Hon KEN TRAVERS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES, RURAL AREAS
Some rural shires such as that at Boyup Brook must pay a $10 000 fee or sometimes a fee of up to $20 000 to finance towers to receive mobile telephone signals. In city areas, the total cost of a tower of $250 000 is paid by the state and federal Governments, and Telstra. However, the total cost of a tower is not paid by these agencies for people living in the country. In rural areas the State Government, the federal Government and Telstra each pays approximately $80 000 and country shire councils contribute $10 000, depending on the agreed arrangements. How can this situation be made more equitable? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES, RURAL AREAS
Some rural shires such as that at Boyup Brook must pay a $10 000 fee or sometimes a fee of up to $20 000 to finance towers to receive mobile telephone signals. In city areas, the total cost of a tower of $250 000 is paid by the state and federal Governments, and Telstra. However, the total cost of a tower is not paid by these agencies for people living in the country. In rural areas the State Government, the federal Government and Telstra each pays approximately $80 000 and country shire councils contribute $10 000, depending on the agreed arrangements. How can this situation be made more equitable? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. It is an excellent question. It is a shame that some members on the other side do not ask such important questions on rural issues in Australia. I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
I am advised that mobile telephone services are not included in the commonwealth’s universal services obligation; hence there is no regulatory obligation on carriers to provide coverage in unprofitable areas. The Wireless West project, in which the commonwealth, state and local governments are collaborating to provide mobile telephone infrastructure in these unprofitable areas is a less than satisfactory, but necessary, solution under these circumstances. Clearly, the best solution is for the Commonwealth to accept its obligations under the Constitution to provide essential telecommunication services. For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
For people in the country, mobile telephones are just as essential as fixed telephone services and the Commonwealth must accept this reality. Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Several government members: Hear, hear! Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
Hon KEN TRAVERS: Grants programs that allow for matching funding from state and local governments do not provide an equitable solution for regional and remote areas. The State Government is continuing to lobby the Commonwealth through its membership of the online council to adopt a more equitable method of providing mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia. I once again thank the member for the question.
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