Regional Telecommunications Review Launches Online Consultations

Two online consultations will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 by the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee as its final step in receiving feedback from the public on connectivity issues impacting them - and ahead of recommendations being delivered to the Australian Government.

The Regional Telecommunications Review - held once every three years - plays a key role in reducing the digital divide between cities and regional Australia, with feedback from the public in previous Reviews leading to policy initiatives and programs such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage.

The Committee, chaired by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, will take the feedback from the online consultations and the feedback it has received to date to deliver its recommendations by the end of the year, to which the Government must respond.

Online consultations tie off the feedback stage and there are a number of ways for regional Australians to take part.

Noting time differences, there will be a session for Eastern and Central Australia and another for Western Australia.

Tuesday, October 1 from 9:30 am to 11 am AEST for Eastern and Central Australia; and

Tuesday, October 1 from 11:30 am to 1 pm AEST for Western Australia.

The views of regional, rural and remote Australians experiencing connectivity issues have been heard loud and clear to date, with a record-breaking number of submissions delivered through the national survey and public submissions, as well as face-to-face consultations across each state.

Reducing the digital divide will ensure communities in rural, regional and remote Australia reach their potential, including First Nations communities, such as improving access to online services, education opportunities, supporting local businesses, and being better able to connect with friends and loved ones.

The Committee’s report plays a key role in ensuring this potential is reached.

Committee members joining Ms MacTiernan include Ian Kelly, Kristy Sparrow, the Hon Fiona Nash and Dr Jessa Rogers.

The Hon Alannah MacTiernan said once the online consultations were done, the committee would get on with drafting the report and delivering their recommendations to the government.

“We know connectivity is a major problem for many people and we would encourage communities to work together to make these online consultations as accessible as possible, whether that be visiting a friend’s place, a local library or somewhere else that has a reliable connection,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“Feedback from the public in previous Reviews has led to policy initiatives and programs that are keeping communities connected and informing government policy, such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage.”

The 2024 Review is guided by the Terms of Reference set by Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, on January 25, 2024.

The 2024 Review engagement has broken records, receiving more than 3300 submissions from the public - an increase of more than 400 per cent compared to 2021.

This easily accessible online survey option - utilised for the first time in a Review - drove most of the submissions received, with a total of 3098 responses.

Visit https://www.rtirc.gov.au/consultation for more information on the Review or to get along to an online consultation.

• Topics:

• Communications
• Science & Technology