”Two-tier system”: Funding for bush connectivity slashed

A $101 million regional shortfall has been revealed in funding for regional telecommunications after new federal cuts.

The divide between telecommunications infrastructure in the cities and the bush is set to widen under the Albanese Government following revelations millions of dollars worth of cuts have been made to regional connectivity.

Federal Nationals MP Sam Birrell said Labor has cut telecommunications funding and investments in regional connectivity, including in disaster resilience.

Those cuts include a $106 million program to boost resilience and telecommunications infrastructure for natural disasters in vulnerable locations, which has been replaced by a commitment of $30.4 million for the Department of Home Affairs for resilience initiatives, including infrastructure.

“It’s a heartless decision at a time when so many regional communities are in the grip of a flood disaster,” Mr Birrell said.

“We are a vast nation, but that’s not an excuse for having a two tier telecommunication system … Blackspots, poor service quality and a lack of access to the latest telecommunications technology are the subject of frequent representations to my office and many offices in regional and remote Australia.

Nationals MP Sam Birrell during his maiden speech to parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“Telecommunications in the regions is critical for business and for participation in the digital economy, and it requires constant investment, not cuts,” the Nicholls MP said.

He said $30 million the Coalition had committed in March for internet affordability measures in regional and rural Australia has been reduced to $4.7 million, while $5 million for emerging technology trials has been scrapped.

A $418 million investment for open access or multi carrier mobile has been cut by $8 million, and the Mobile Black Spot Program has been cut by $37.5 million.

In the October federal budget, the Albanese Government promised $757.7 million over five years from 2022-23 to improve mobile and broadband connectivity.

This compares to the former Coalition government’s March budget, which committed $811 million for regional connectivity initiatives.

The Department of Communications is yet to respond to questioning from Shadow Communications spokeswoman Sarah Henderson with the full list of programs to have received funding cuts.

A departmental spokesman told The Weekly Times the federal government’s Better Connectivity Plan includes $656 million of new funding, including $400 million for mobile coverage and communications resilience, including for additional rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

But Ms Henderson said the budget papers showed the Albanese government has cut $101 million from regional communications programs over four years.

“Regrettably the only funding allocated under the Mobile Black Spots Program is for Labor election commitments, which represents nothing more than a slush fund,” Ms Henderson said.

“This means that many regional communities across the country will miss out on applying for funding under this vital program.”