Not satisfied with your communication services?
As part of the Australian Government’s Regional Telecommunications Review, Australians living and working in regional, rural and remote communities will have one week to have their say on telecommunications issues.
Chair of the Rural Telecommunications Independent Review Commission, Alanna McTiernan MP, is also urging people to spread the word about the review to friends, family and colleagues across regional Australia before it closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 31 July.
“People in regional, rural and remote Australia are more reliant on communications services than ever before, and reliable, high-speed connectivity underpins public safety, daily operations, social inclusion and access to essential health and education services,” Mr McTiernan said.
People can express their opinions in many different ways.
Submit online or in writing to:
Regional Communications Review
GPO Box 594, Canberra ACT 2601
Complete a short survey that takes about 10 minutes
Participate in face-to-face consultations, which will continue to take place in southern New South Wales, northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Commission has been examining the experiences of people living in regional, rural and remote Australia and the suitability of their telecommunications services.
Residents, businesses and community organisations can submit comments or respond to a survey based on the terms of reference which outline the key issues for the commission to consider. An issues paper has also been published to help shape ideas.
Input from local communities will be a key part of the review, which will be held every three years, and the committee will provide recommendations to the government.
Previous reviews have resulted in policy initiatives and programs such as the Mobile Black Spot Programme and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage, all of which are a direct result of community feedback.
The terms of reference set out by the Federal Minister of Communications, Michel Rolland MP, outline the key focus areas for the review, which include:
opportunities for new technologies to strengthen communications systems in regional, rural and remote Australia, the effectiveness of existing government initiatives, modernising the universal service regime, enhancing communications during natural disasters and the extent to which the needs of Indigenous communities are being met.
The committee is expected to report to Minister Rowland by December 31, 2024.
For more information about the review, to submit or complete the survey, visit https://www.rtirc.gov.au/consultation
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