DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications
Member for Mallee

MELISSA MCINTOSH MP

Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Women
Member for Lindsay

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Albanese Government fails to meet legislated regional telecommunications deadline

Tuesday 2 September 2025

The Coalition has formally moved yesterday that the Albanese Government be held to account for failing to meet a legislated deadline to table its response to a key regional telecommunications report.

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Dr Anne Webster MP moved a motion in Parliament calling upon Communications Minister Anika Wells to table its response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC) report immediately.

“By law, the Commonwealth Government has 6 months to table its response to each report,” Dr Webster said.

“Yet again Labor demonstrates that they simply don’t have a focus on regional Australia. Regional people deserve better.

“It is unacceptable that farmers who work out in the paddocks alone all day have no way of letting a loved one know if they have an accident or a medical event because they don’t have mobile phone coverage, let alone continuous internet access for modern farm technology.

“It is also unacceptable that regional consumers face lengthy delays without an internet connection when a mobile phone tower is being upgraded, where their only form of broadband is via the mobile phone system, with no alternate form of reliable redundancy.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh said MP said, “it is incredibly disappointing the Albanese Labor Government is yet again slacking off in the Communications portfolio and putting regional Australians last.”

“The fact that the Albanese Government is yet to respond to the regional telecommunications report demonstrates the on-going lack of transparency by Labor.

“Along with waiting for the government’s late response to the regional telecommunications review, Australians want answers from Labor on when the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation legislation will be introduced to benefit rural and remote areas, gambling advertising reform for live sport, legislation for a digital duty of care and when the consultation paper for the News Bargaining Incentive will land.”

The RTIRC 2024 report made 14 recommendations to the Albanese Government, including:

·         expediting universal service modernisation, providing voice-capable broadband services with minimum speeds and standards for all premises.

·         phasing out the Copper Continuity Obligation (CCO) where and when there is a proven and effective alternative technology.

·         creating a Universal Service Obligation (USO) that is technology-neutral and flexible enough to readily adapt and be relevant to changing needs.

·         system redundancy – namely, that premises without terrestrial mobile coverage can access an affordable secondary broadband service.

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