REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about regional telecommunications.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Reported on 25 May 2012 on ABC radio, Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee Chairwoman, Rosemary Sinclair, stated that 'it is unlikely mobile phone services in regional Australia will improve without government funding and support'. The federal government's Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee made 33 recommendations for improving services across Australia. Shadow federal minister for regional communications Luke Hartsuyker stated in his media release on 24 May that:

...the review of regional telecommunications services has found poor mobile reception is the number one concern for residents in regional Australia. The Labor government has failed to invest in improving mobile phone coverage despite it being such an obvious problem.

Ms Sinclair confirmed on ABC radio that 'we would like to see the federal government get together with the state government, industry and local government to determine a collaborative approach'. She continued to say:

...the committee was very interested in the model adopted by Western Australia, where the state government was very involved in funding a considerable extension to the mobile network.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister acknowledge that the state government has a responsibility for supporting and improving regional telecommunication services?

2. What consultations has the Minister for Regional Development had with the federal government or with the state Western Australian government to improve the service?

3. What measures and collaborative approach will the minister advocate to improve mobile coverage to regional cities so that farmers, businesses, tourists and regional South Australians will not be disadvantaged and left behind?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. There are a number of things that this government has done to assist in mobile coverage. As Minister for Regional Development, using one of my grants, I recently funded the construction of a mobile phone tower in the South-East to assist with coverage in that area. So, there are numerous examples of this government working with regions to identify areas where there are concerns and to assist wherever we can.

Generally speaking, however, telecommunications is not an issue that is a responsibility of the Minister for Regional Development but, as I said, in my own small way I have certainly made some contribution. I know it is not directly related but it does overlap, and that is our national program of the National Broadband Network rollout. I will have to mention something about that here in this space. The National Broadband Network is obviously a very important national initiative, and three technologies will be delivered: the optical fibre to premises, 93 per cent nationally; fixed wireless, around 4 per cent; and satellite, 3 per cent, being used for locations where fibre is not feasible, such as regional and remote areas.

I think there was something in the Stock Journal today that talked about how important the National Broadband Network rollout was for regions. In fact, I think it was Brenton Lewis from here in South Australia who made a comment and said how important it was and how it opened so many doors for regions. So, it was our own Brenton Lewis, and I am pretty sure it was the Stock Journal today that ran a quote from him. The NBN is most important for connecting the bush.

I have just been advised that the particular tower that I referred to—I should make sure I do correct the record—in fact did not go ahead because, in the end, when they did the business case, it was decided it was not worthwhile. But, as regional development minister, I was certainly prepared to put a grant towards that project, so I have certainly indicated my commitment. If the project had gone ahead, I was certainly willing to contribute state funds to that. I need to make sure that that is updated.

The national program is being delivered on a staged deployment basis, and the South Australian government is working with the federal government and the NBN Co. to achieve the best possible outcomes for South Australia. Cabinet approved the establishment of a SA government NBN task force to lead and coordinate an across-government interaction with the NBN Co. The NBN publicly released a 12-month national rollout, and this adds a number of sites to the rollout in South Australia, such as Aldinga Beach, Modbury, Port Augusta, Port Elliot, Seaford, McLaren Vale, Stirling, Strathalbyn, Yankalilla, and a number of others. Willunga was one of the five national first-release sites, and it had a 91 per cent take-up rate of premises owners agreeing to have a fibre connection, and this is the highest of all national first-release sites.

So, we can see how our country areas are very much embracing this technology to keep them connected. NBN Co. has announced the metropolitan and regional sites that will be rolled out over the next 12 months, and they cover 65,000 South Australian premises. The South Australian government is also actively considering the impact on government operations where the South Australian government will use services delivered.

Locations in regional South Australia will be served by the NBN in the following ways. Some regional South Australian locations were included in the recently released three-year rollout scheme. Other regional locations will receive additional NBN fixed wireless coverage, but the details of this have yet to be released. The NBN Co. interim satellite service, which provides upgraded satellite services, is available now to eligible premises, ahead of the final satellite service expected to be available in 2015, when NBN Co. launches its own satellite services.

Of course, many regional locations are also benefitting now from wireless broadband services provided under the Broadband Development Fund, some of which provide services comparable to the entry level NBN services. So, we can see that a great deal is being done to make sure that our regions are connected and that our regions can share in and move ahead and form a future for South Australia.