Federal Government must put some light on broadband black spots, Holt.

Author: Colin Holt
Published on: 25-November-2009

Nationals’ Member for the South West Region Hon. Colin Holt, wants Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to outline which locations will miss out on the proposed $43 billion dollar National Broadband Network. Under the program, communities of less than 1000 people will have an internet connection 7 times slower than bigger places like Perth or the eastern states.

"This mentality of placing regional areas second will jeopardise critical services in many communities in the South West and regional WA, where a reliance on communication to overcome distance is paramount" said Mr Holt.

"I have written to Minister Conroy describing a local doctor in Borden who is unable to gain mobile phone coverage, has to put up with patchy dial up internet connection, and unable to run both internet and phone service at the same time."

"This scenario outlines the urgent need for high quality telecommunications regardless of community size and stresses the added importance of communication to small, regional communities" said Mr Holt.

"In an emergency every second counts, regional areas face added challenges linked with distance and having second rate communication services compounds the challenge" said Mr Holt.