Residents and businesses impacted: Where are Queensland’s mobile black spots?

Queensland has 2984 mobile black spots impacting business, safety, and community connections. SEE OUR INTERACTIVE MAP

An outback publican is fed-up and beyond frustrated with a lack of mobile service labelling it a safety hazard for the community.

Bianca Brooker has run the Einasleigh Hotel with partner John Green since July last year.

The duo has lived and worked in the area for years.

In that time the publican says they’ve heard many promises of improved service for the town in north west Queensland.

“The black spots are a worry because we have an ageing community who already have health problems,” she said.

“As soon as we lose power we lose all telecommunications and it also happens on a weekly basis as the phone lines are so dated and no backup power.

“We lose so much business due to this, loss of our eftpos machine means loss of sales.

“Plus we miss out on accommodation bookings, meal bookings, inquiries which would lead to sales and visitors to the area.”

The town only recently received mobile service in September last year but Ms Brooker says it’s unreliable.

“It keeps crashing … our progress committee and local council paid for the tower as Telstra would not put one out here,” she said.

“It will never cope when we have our annual race meet and rodeo on Easter weekend.

“We are so over it, it was meant to be an asset for our community but has turn, md into a white elephant.

“The mobile service only just reaches the edge of town, which means the cattle stations can’t even access it unless they drive right into Einasleigh, minutes can mean life and death out here.”

And they’re not the only ones frustrated.

Residents and businesses have reported 2984 mobile black spots across Queensland, yet only a handful will be addressed in the next stage of the federal government’s plan to improve coverage around the country.

Nine new towers will be constructed under round 5A of the Mobile Black Spot Program, which will see 67 towers rolled out across the country.

Local MP Robbie Katter said many in his area face challenges of continuous black spots.

“The local pub at Einasleigh faces constant black spot problems and it affects her ability to operate and provide a service to the local community,” he said.

“Black spots are expected in an electorate which is predominantly remote, rural and many communities spread out.

“Unfortunately, unless the government is willing to flip the bill when it comes to connecting our communities, Telstra does not have any initiative to fix the problem as they are more worried about their profit margin than the communities impacted by lack of towers.”

Mr Katter said the problem was so vast and frequent he could “write a list five pages long of constituents experiencing issues”.

“The issue is not just about mobile coverage and being able to watch Netflix without buffering,” he said.

“This is about businesses being able to operate EFTPOS facilities to allow customers to pay for food at the local grocer, fuel at the petrol station and buy the local paper from the newsagents.

“More needs to be done to see the results for locals that require good quality telecommunications connectivity.”

Traeger MP Robbie Katter says problems with mobile black spots in Queensland are “vast and long”. Picture: Leonie Winks

Federal member for Kennedy Bob Kennedy said telecommunications problems are the number one issue raised with him.

“I’ve worn out the carpet visiting the Minister and it was great to see recognition with $68.5m in federal budget funding earlier in the year for mobile black spots in Northern Australia, but now we urge the Government to do more,” he said.

“My office is continually receiving information about areas that need phone or telecommunications upgrades, so if you have an issue call my office.

“In 2021, telecommunications upgrades are just as important as new roads or other infrastructure.”

Many black spots also sit within Member for Warrego Ann Leahy’s electorate.

“We have to keep working at extending mobile coverage, better internet speeds and reliability,” she said.

“There is always more to do and I encourage everyone to keep focused on delivering better telecommunications to the regions.

“When we have distances like we have in rural and regional Queensland the roll out is vital, to keep the regions competitive with the metropolitan areas.”

Warrego MP Ann Leahy says they need to keep working on extending coverage and reliability. Picture: Liam Kidston.

A spokesman for the Minister for Regionalisation and Regional Communities Bridget McKenzie says the Federal Government’s priority is to provide Australians with better access to reliable communication services.

“The Government can only consider proposals in an area if applicants apply for funding in that area,” the spokesman said.

The next round of the black spot program is expected to open for applications later this year following a public consultation process on the program design.

“All proposals are competitively assessed on a proposal-by-proposal basis … which include coverage benefits and value for money,” the spokesman said.

Mr Katter says politics needs to be taken out of the equation when it comes to people’s businesses and safety.

“Every year like clockwork you have the Federal Government send ministers on taxpayer funded jets to come up here in regional Queensland and spruik how much money they’re going to sink into the regions black spot problem,” he said.

“Once they fly home you don’t hear from them for a few months.

“If you want their vote, you bet locals expect them to put on their big boy pants and start delivering results.”