❓ Ms. Duncan asks about the benefits of the regional mobile communications project. The Minister responds positively, highlighting increased coverage, improved emergency response, and support for businesses and communities, with further expansion planned.
AnsweredQoN 633Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT
633. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Regional Development:
As the rollout of the first stage of the regional mobile
communications project nears completion —
Mr P.B. Watson :
The Independent National!
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Albany to order for the second time.
Ms W.M. DUNCAN : As
the rollout of the first stage of the regional mobile communications project
nears completion, can the minister provide an update on what benefits the
project has delivered to regional communities?
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT
633. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Regional Development:
As the rollout of the first stage of the regional mobile
communications project nears completion —
Mr P.B. Watson :
The Independent National!
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Albany to order for the second time.
Ms W.M. DUNCAN : As
the rollout of the first stage of the regional mobile communications project
nears completion, can the minister provide an update on what benefits the
project has delivered to regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. On a
recent trip to the Ngaanyatjarra lands at Wingellina—one of the most
isolated parts of Western Australia—it was fantastic to see a mobile
phone tower, supported by the Liberal–National government. It is a
fundamental piece of infrastructure to support communication in regional
Western Australia, which supports businesses and communities. Recently, at the
community cabinet held in Manjimup on Monday, and before that at a community
meeting on Sunday, one of the things we did was launch the 104 th mobile phone tower under the regional mobile communications project—a
$40 million project funded by royalties for regions. The level of connectivity
in regional Western Australia has increased in coverage by 95 000 square
kilometres over a significant part of Western Australia. We can just about
drive from Kununurra to Esperance on Highway 1 and have mobile phone coverage
all the way, which is a fantastic outcome.
A recent internal evaluation of the program indicated that
the program had delivered a number of other things. It has delivered a better
and more appropriate response to emergencies. This is a very clear outcome in
the isolated parts of the state. It has provided a more up-to-date public
safety information platform and increased public perception of safety along the
highways, supporting tourism and travel in Western Australia. As I said, there
are also substantial benefits to local small businesses and communities. The
program also offers a platform for innovation in delivering services into
regional Western Australia. We have talked in here about the importance of
telehealth as a strategy for providing health services to more isolated parts
of the state. Having a mobile communications platform to be able to achieve
that gives a significant lift to those services. It does not finish there.
We will be aiming for 113 towers in the first program,
partnering with Telstra. We have another $45 million in the royalties for
regions state budget allocation supporting another 80 telecommunication towers
across the state. This is a fantastic outcome for regional Western Australia.
Something as fundamental as communications, and having a platform for
innovation in service delivery into regional Western Australia, is a great
outcome and it is happening with the Liberal–National government in
power.
recent trip to the Ngaanyatjarra lands at Wingellina—one of the most
isolated parts of Western Australia—it was fantastic to see a mobile
phone tower, supported by the Liberal–National government. It is a
fundamental piece of infrastructure to support communication in regional
Western Australia, which supports businesses and communities. Recently, at the
community cabinet held in Manjimup on Monday, and before that at a community
meeting on Sunday, one of the things we did was launch the 104 th mobile phone tower under the regional mobile communications project—a
$40 million project funded by royalties for regions. The level of connectivity
in regional Western Australia has increased in coverage by 95 000 square
kilometres over a significant part of Western Australia. We can just about
drive from Kununurra to Esperance on Highway 1 and have mobile phone coverage
all the way, which is a fantastic outcome.
A recent internal evaluation of the program indicated that
the program had delivered a number of other things. It has delivered a better
and more appropriate response to emergencies. This is a very clear outcome in
the isolated parts of the state. It has provided a more up-to-date public
safety information platform and increased public perception of safety along the
highways, supporting tourism and travel in Western Australia. As I said, there
are also substantial benefits to local small businesses and communities. The
program also offers a platform for innovation in delivering services into
regional Western Australia. We have talked in here about the importance of
telehealth as a strategy for providing health services to more isolated parts
of the state. Having a mobile communications platform to be able to achieve
that gives a significant lift to those services. It does not finish there.
We will be aiming for 113 towers in the first program,
partnering with Telstra. We have another $45 million in the royalties for
regions state budget allocation supporting another 80 telecommunication towers
across the state. This is a fantastic outcome for regional Western Australia.
Something as fundamental as communications, and having a platform for
innovation in service delivery into regional Western Australia, is a great
outcome and it is happening with the Liberal–National government in
power.
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