ALP promises to fix mobile black spot and NBN issues
A poultry farmer north of Brisbane, who lives in a mobile phone black spot, says he could lose all 400,000 of his chickens, at any moment, without reception.
Donnybrook poultry farmer Nick Theunissen says he could lose all 400,000 of his chickens, at any moment, without mobile phone reception.
He’s one of many residents in surrounding suburbs who live in a mobile phone black spot and are yet to receive the National Broadband Network (NBN).
“All my alarms work through a mobile phone, so I need reception for the alarms,” he said.
“If the shed runs too hot and I don’t get the alarm I could lose 400,000 chickens in 15 minutes.”
NBN Co last week said it would erect a fixed wireless NBN tower in Donnybrook by late May. But those in the region say they are still in the dark over its mobile phone reception issues.
Federal ALP Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Stephen Jones has promised to make both issues his priority leading up to the federal election after visiting the Donnybrook area earlier this month.
$1 FOR 28 DAYS: SUBSCRIBE TO CABOOLTURE HERALD & THE COURIER MAIL
He claims Donnybrook was supposed to be upgraded as during round 2 of the LNP’s Mobile Black Spot Program, which was set to begin in 2017.
“The rural fire station said they can’t get a phone signal in the headquarters in the middle of an emergency and can’t make a call,” Mr Jones said. “It’s beyond a joke.
“We’re going to make it our number one priority to get it done before the election.”
A spokesman for federal LNP Minister for Regional Services Bridget McKenzie would not say when the tower was supposed to be installed, but it had been placed on the Priority Locations list.
“All base stations funded under the Priority Locations round, including the Donnybrook site, are scheduled to be delivered by June 30, 2019,” he said.
The LNP government is the only one to rollout a program to fix mobile black spots to date.
