The 3G network shutdown and the resultant varying drop in phone coverage have disconnected grain growers across regional Australia, reducing the efficiency of farming activities, impacting access to health services and reducing overall farm safety.
Addressing the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) hearing on the issue, GrainGrowers Advocacy and Rural Affairs Manager Sean Cole said telecommunications was fundamental to the business of rural Australia.
Mr Cole said the impact of poor telecommunications could not be overstated.
“Telecommunications is fundamental to how people farm and how they do business, particularly in regard to health and safety issues.”
“In interviews and discussions across Australia, the majority of growers have been adversely impacted by a lack of mobile phone coverage, resulting from the 3G shutdown.”
He said the reduction in coverage was now impacting worker and farm safety, with the recent fire events also highlighting the serious effect on coordinating an effective response to natural disasters.
‘This is not just about being disconnected from family and friends. It is about being able to run a business, coordinate farming activities and deal with issues that arise across regional Australia.”
Mr Cole said GrainGrowers was deeply concerned over the decreasing service coverage and would continue to work with the National Farmers Federation to progress workable outcomes.
“In our grain-producing regions, we need increased connectivity to run the software in tractors, undertake grain market activities and business accounting and access the increasing number of mobile apps.”
“The 3G shutdown has comparatively put us well behind urban areas, with growers frustrated they are paying for services they simply cannot access.”
“It is not as though growers have not tried to rectify the situation. Many of our members have invested heavily in mobile boosters and other technology workarounds, but they are simply unable to address the overwhelming need for better technology,” he said.
Further details on the inquiry can be found here: Shutdown of the 3G mobile network – Parliament of Australia
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Media contact: Chris Rowley
P: 0415 140 253 | Email chris.rowley@graingrowers.com.au | www.graingrowers.com.au