MICHELLE ROWLAND MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

KRISTY MCBAIN MP

MEMBER FOR EDEN-MONARO

LABOR TO FIX BLACKSPOTS, BOOST FULL-FIBRE NBN ACCESS IN EDEN-MONARO

Reliable, quality, high speed internet and mobile phone reception are not luxury items or a nice-to-haves — they are essential 21st century economic infrastructure.

Families need proper mobile coverage and reliable, fast connections for school and work; small businesses and entrepreneurs need it to stay competitive; and regional communities like those across Eden-Monaro need it for all those reasons, and as a matter of safety.

That’s why an Albanese Labor Government has a plan to make the NBN faster and more reliable, and will invest to address mobile blackspots in Eden-Monaro.  

Our plan will see over 18,000 homes and businesses in Eden-Monaro gain access to world-class fibre connectivity. This will be rolled out across the region including but not limited to Jerrabomberra, Eden, Merimbula, Bungendore, Bega, Pambula and Dalmeny.

This is part of an Albanese Labor Government’s broader plan to invest $2.4 billion to expand Fibre to the Premises access to a further 1.5 million premises.

Mobile blackspots have always been an issue across Eden-Monaro, but the Black Summer Bushfires showed the serious safety implications of unreliable mobile phone reception.  

As part of the region’s recovery, Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain has been advocating for more investment in fixing blackspots.

An Albanese Labor Government will commit a further $2 million, on top of the existing $5 million by-election commitment, to improve mobile coverage in areas including but not limited to:

• $3.5 Million to address some blackspots along the Princes Highway from Ulladulla to Eden.
• $1 Million to improve coverage along the Kings Highway
• $1 Million to improve coverage along the Monaro Highway
• $1 Million to improve coverage along the Snowy Mountains Highway
• Plus $2.5 million for improved mobile coverage in Carwoola, Wee Jasper, Talbingo, Dalmeny and Mystery Bay and $250,000 for a small cell in Majors Creek.

Attributable to Kristy McBain, Member for Eden-Monaro:

It continues to baffle me that we can travel to towns as little as 20 kilometres away from Parliament House, like Carwoola, and mobile coverage is still unacceptable.

Everywhere I travel in Eden-Monaro I hear the same message – that our communications infrastructure is patchy, dangerous and incredibly frustrating.

When the pandemic hit and people were forced to work and learn from home, I was inundated with people telling me that their slow and unreliable internet access made this impossible.

I am so pleased to be able to announce this package and start the journey in bringing our mobile coverage and NBN access in line with our capital cities.

Attributable to Michelle Rowland, Shadow Minister for Communications:

Kristy has hit the ground running as the Member for Eden-Monaro. In less than two years she has engaged with communities across her region, no matter how big or small, and advocated for what they have been asking for.

Since she first came to Parliament, she has been relentless in her advocacy on all issues, especially bringing this region’s communications infrastructure up to scratch.

Kristy has spoken to me numerous times about mobile blackspots across Eden-Monaro and the NBN issues so many of her constituents are forced to grapple with.

Labor has a national plan to expand full-fibre access, boost fixed-wireless speeds and increase satellite data allowances.

This means 4 in every 5 regional households and businesses will have the ability to access NBN speeds of 100 megabits per second or more under our policies, compared to just 1 in 3 at present.

Simply put, regional Australians will have better connectivity under a Labor Government.

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL 2022