Review ‘virtual’

Irony is probably the best word for the current Regional Telecommunications Review.

Set up to hear how mobile and internet access in remote Australia can be improved, the review is only conducting “virtual” consultations due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Any bush resident hoping to complain to the Federal Government about a lack of mobile or internet access can still write in — but they have to email it to the RTIRC website.

So far 10 virtual sessions have been held across all states with more sessions to come during the next six weeks.

Review committee chair Luke Hartsuyker — a former National Party politician — said the committee had heard how important ‘‘reliable’’ and ‘‘resilient’’ phone and internet connections were in isolated communities.

“My committee and I will be providing a report card as to the state of play in regional telecommunications,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

This report card will go straight to the Federal Regional Communications Minister in late December.

Telecommunications is becoming increasingly central to agriculture as machinery and technology continues to merge and the “internet of things” is promoted to farmers.

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said improved connectivity was key to achieving the goal of agriculture reaching a value of $100 billion by 2030.

“The uptake of digital agriculture on farm could provide as much as $20.3 billion to the value of Australian agriculture, which is critical to our $100 billion goal,” Mr Mahar said.

However, only 33 per cent of the Australian landmass has mobile services and in two years the big telcos will begin decommissioning their 3G services — the network with the largest footprint outside the cities.

Those with less time on their hands can fill out a 10-minute NFF survey rather than turning up to virtual consultations.

However, the survey can only be accessed online.