Region farmers have joined Federal Mallee MP Andrew Broad in a long fought campaign to end the “data drought damaging rural communities”.
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) converged on Canberra this week, joining representatives from 16 other groups in a Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition to lobby federal politicians in bridging the digital divide separating city-dwellers from their country cousins.
“The aim of our mission isn’t to complain about the level of telecommunications service we aren’t getting, but we need to let the decision makers in the bush capital know our ideas for improvements,” Quambatook grain grower and VFF vice president, Brett Hosking, said.
“The VFF fields heaps of calls from farmers frustrated with their current level of service, so we’re taking action by bringing the issues all the way to Canberra.”
The Coalition scheduled appointments with 50 parliamentarians over the next two days to discuss issues ranging from mobile black spots and the Sky Muster satellite service to the Federal Government’s Universal Service Obligation, which ensures all Australians receive a basic level of service from their telecommunication providers.
To read more of this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (March 24).
Council endorses blackspot priority
Swan Hill council has endorsed a priority mobile blackspot list within the municipality for submission to round three of the Federal Government Mobile Blackspot Program.
Council’s director development and planning, Adam McSwain, said top priority had been identified in the area between Manangatang and Piangil.
Murray-Mallee Ward councillor Gary Norton said the absence of coverage not only affected community services but also the ability of the broad acre farmers to achieve maximum productivity using machine to machine technology.
Manangatang Landmark agronomist Neville Arentz said farming productivity was decreasing because of the lack of connectivity.
“The mobile coverage has been terrible for a fair while now,” Mr Arentz said.
“The mobile coverage has been terrible for a fair while now,” Mr Arentz said.
To read more of this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (March 24).
