Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has written to the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, calling for a federal commission to ensure the reliable delivery of communication services in rural and remote communities of the Gulf and North West Queensland.

Mr Katter raised the call for a federal commission after a series of service failures continue to plague the Far North, the Gulf and North West regions of Queensland.

These failures have resulted in residents of the Gregory Region being unable to contact the Royal Flying Doctors Service, emergency numbers or conduct business. In other remote areas throughout the affected area, students have been unable to access the School of the Air program while cattle stations are losing business and earnings as they can’t ring to book the trucks that transport cattle to sale yards.

“It just breaks my heart to hear these things are going on, and it absolutely infuriates me to think that these grubby profit-driven telco providers think that a band-aid solution is acceptable,” Mr Katter said.

“When the remote radio phones and landlines are down there is no way to make contact with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. So if there is a medical or police emergency, what are people supposed to do – send an email?”

“There are many families and businesses now at breaking point. Small businesses including tourism and accommodation businesses are going broke because the phone and EFTPOS services are out for days and weeks at a time.”

Mr Katter said, “We need to set up a commission to ensure the delivery of essential services in communication. When the telco service goes down, these people need someone to go to with concerns and complaints. With a commission, service providers will be held accountable.”

Mr Katter voiced concerns over the telco provider’s current approach to “patching up” faulty remote radio signal communications and phone towers, arguing that it is costly in both time and money.

“The telco provider should stop wasting money on flying in parts and technicians to fix recurring problems. They should be using this money to upgrade the system and put profits back into remote and regional Queensland.

“These communities deserve the same reliable service that the rest of the State enjoys and a federal commission will see that this happens,” Mr Katter said.