Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has called for the Federal Government to significantly increase its investment in regional telecommunications, citing the persistent internet divide between the cities and the bush.

Dr Haines submission to the triannual Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Review made nine recommendations to improve phone and internet access for communities in regional Australia. 

Dr Haines’ recommendations focus on eradicating blackspots, increasing resilience during emergencies and natural disasters, supporting businesses and primary producers, and fixing network congestion. 

“The federal government needs to do better, because what I hear time and time again is that telecommunications aren’t up to scratch in regional, rural and remote Australia”, Dr Haines said. 

“More than ever, we work online, we study online, we access health services online and we keep in touch with our friends and family online, but we can’t do any of these things if we can’t connect. If we can’t connect then we fall behind,” Dr Haines said. 

“Poor telecommunications are a barrier to prosperity and create significant challenges for our communities in times of emergency.” 

Since being elected in 2019, Dr Haines has secured funding for 13 new phone towns in Indi, with four towers due to come online in 2024. Under independent representation, Indi is the most successful federal electorate in Victoria to secure funding under the Commonwealth Mobile Black Spot Program, but Dr Haines said the work shouldn’t stop there. 

“The federal government has an ongoing responsibility to ensure regional communities have access to stable, affordable, high-speed telecommunications.” 

“Regional communities can’t afford second-rate telecommunications, when we rely so heavily on them to run businesses, work and study from home, and access healthcare services. 

“We’ve been catching up after decades of neglect, but our regions should not have to settle for services that still lag behind metropolitan areas.” 

In May, Dr Haines welcomed the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Review Committee to Benalla, where she hosted a roundtable with Mayors and CEOs of Indi’s nine local governments. A public consolation at the Benalla Town Hall attracted more than 50 people.

At the time, Dr Haines said that “this was an opportunity for people across Indi to tell the federal government directly about the challenges they face because of poor phone and internet services, and they face real challenges.”

“One message I heard loud and clear was the need for more generators and batteries to provide backup to mobile phone towers when the power goes out. That’s why my submission recommended the Government increase funding for programs that fund generators and batteries for our remote mobile phone towers.”

“We must increase resilience now before the next fire or flood arrives, not after. We need to increase funding for programs that fund community energy nodes and power backup for mobile phone towers in extreme weather events.”   

With the final report due before the end of this year, Dr Haines will be watching to see what this Government’s plan is for closing the digital divide.

“Regional communities have had enough of sub-standard services. It stops local communities and businesses from achieving their full potential, it threatens our safety, and it is a handbrake on regional development.”

Dr Haines is currently consulting with the Indi Telecommunications Advisory Group to secure funds under two open programs providing $75 million in funds for better telecommunications infrastructure.

Dr Haines has fought for improved telecommunications in Federal Parliament by introducing her Faster Internet for Regional Australia Bill in 2022, which sought to guarantee access for regional Australians to fast, high-quality internet of the same standard enjoyed by people in the major cities.

“Since becoming the Independent Member for Indi, I have worked tirelessly to bring local communities, councils and other organisations together to improve phone and internet connectivity across our region and I won’t give up.”

Dr Haines’ submission to the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Review is here.

Dr Haines’ Faster Internet for Regional Australia Bill 2022 is here.  

Dr Haines’ work on better phone and internet coverage is here.