Two online consultations will be held on Tuesday 1 October 2024 by the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee as its final step in receiving feedback from the public on connectivity issues impacting them – and ahead of recommendations being delivered to the Australian Government.
The Regional Telecommunications Review – held once every three years – plays a key role in reducing the digital divide between cities and regional Australia, with feedback from the public in previous Reviews leading to policy initiatives and programs such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage.
The Committee – chaired by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan – will take the feedback from the online consultations and the feedback it has received to date to deliver its recommendations by the end of the year, to which the Government must respond.
The online consultations tie off the feedback stage and there are a number of ways for regional Australians to take part. Noting time differences, there will be a session for Eastern and Central Australia and another for Western Australia:
· Tuesday, 1 October: 9:30 am – 11:00 am AEST for Eastern and Central Australia
· Tuesday, 1 October, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm AEST (9:30 am – 11:00 am AWST) for Western Australia
The views of regional, rural, and remote Australians experiencing connectivity issues have been heard loud and clear thus far with a record-breaking number of submissions delivered through the national survey and public submissions, as well as face-to-face consultations across each state.
Reducing the digital divide will ensure communities in rural, regional, and remote Australia reach their potential – including First Nations communities – such as improving access to online services, education opportunities, supporting local businesses, and being better able to connect with friends and loved ones.
The Committee’s report plays a key role in ensuring this potential is reached. The Committee members joining Ms MacTiernan are Mr Ian Kelly, Ms Kristy Sparrow, the Hon Fiona Nash and Dr Jessa Rogers.
The 2024 Review is guided by the Terms of Reference set by the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, on 25 January 2024.
The 2024 Review engagement has broken records, receiving more than 3300 submissions from the public – an increase of more than 400% per cent compared to 2021. The easily accessible online survey option – utilised for the first time in a Review – drove most of the submissions received, with a total of 3098 responses.
For more information on the Review or to get along to an online consultation, visit: https://www.rtirc.gov.au/
Quotes attributable to Chair, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan:
“Once these online consultations are done, we will get on with drafting the report and delivering our recommendations to the government.
“We know connectivity is a major problem for many people and we would encourage communities to work together to make these online consultations as accessible as possible, whether that be visiting a friend’s place, a local library, or somewhere else that has a reliable connection.
“Feedback from the public in previous Reviews has led to policy initiatives and programs that are keeping communities connected and informing government policy, such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage.”
Background
The Regional Telecommunications Review (the Review) is an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services.
Every 3 years a Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (the Committee) is established to conduct the Review. The Committee’s findings and recommendations help set the government’s approach to regional telecommunications issues and policy during the following years.
The 2024 Committee was appointed on 12 January 2024. The five members appointed to the Committee—the Hon Alannah MacTiernan (Chair), Mr Ian Kelly, Ms Kristy Sparrow, The Hon Fiona Nash and Dr Jessa Rogers—will conduct public consultations during 2024.
The Committee has been asked to examine the adequacy of regional Australia’s telecommunications,
including hearing from people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. More information about how the Committee will do this is available in the Terms of Reference, below. The Committee will present its findings to the government by 31 December 2024.
More information about the Review can be found at Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.
Information about past reviews can be found at Regional Telecommunications Review.
The Review will examine the suitability of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia. It will also consider particular issues identified in the Terms of Reference, including:
- awareness and impact of government investment in regional communications
- implications, opportunities and attitudes towards changing and emerging technologies
- how needs are being met in First Nations communities
- suitability of communications services during emergencies and natural disasters
- potential to fast-track some Universal Service Obligation reforms.
The Committee has been asked to deliver its report to the Australian Government by 31 December 2024. The Committee may make recommendations to the Government, to which it must respond.
Visit the Regional Telecommunications Review website for more information about the Review and the consultation process.
