Transcript - ABC Northern Tasmania Drive

EVAN WALLACE, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised a $3 billion injection to, in his words, finish the National Broadband Network, a measure that aims to improve both the reliability and speed of Australia's internet. The funding will help upgrade more than 600,000 homes and businesses to a full fibre connection. The Government says: after the upgrades are completed by the end of 2030, 95 per cent of premises across the country will have access to fibre to the premises.
But connecting rural properties and businesses to affordable broadband, it is still a big challenge. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has been in northern Tasmania today announcing more grants to help farmers use technology in their business. Minister, good afternoon.
 
MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Good afternoon.
 
WALLACE: Connectivity in rural areas across Tasmania is still an issue. What are you offering today?
 
ROWLAND: Well, yesterday we announced that the Albanese Government will be injecting up to $3 billion in equity with NBN Co to finish the job of upgrading the substandard copper Fibre to the Node Network (FTTN) that is currently the only source of broadband in too many parts of Australia.
When we talk about broadband connectivity we have always, as a Government, been committed to having the highest quality infrastructure because we know that it's future-proof and that it needs to be fibre.
 
What we have announced is that those 622,000 premises across Australia that are currently burdened with a substandard copper network will have the ability to access full fibre.
 
WALLACE: I'm going to jump in here, Minister, because there's a lot and I know that, for many listeners, when they think about the internet, when they think about their phone, they think about connectivity. Here in Tasmania we know that there are still parts of the community, just thinking 40 minutes outside of Launceston, where there are areas where reception is poor or non-existent. If you're listening to northern Tas at the moment, you would know that could be a really, tricky to get the mobile reception that you need. Are any of these changes going to help Tasmanians be better connected when it comes to mobile and internet?
 
ROWLAND: Well, certainly the NBN network carries a large proportion of mobile traffic in Australia and it also means that by having better fibre connections in one's home, it improves connectivity in the home as well through Wi-Fi networks. So, we'll have more to say as a Government on those specific mobile aspects. But certainly by improving the NBN and those connectivity solutions that enables much better capacity, particularly for people in their homes. It's also one of the reasons why I'm here in Tasmania, is about improving connectivity on farms for primary producers as well.
 
WALLACE: You have been in the north-west of Tasmania making an announcement today to help farmers use technology in their businesses - $20 million has been pledged. What exactly is it for?
 
ROWLAND: So, this is for the third round of what we call the On Farm Connectivity Program. This is about awarding grants for what we call ag-tech. This was a recommendation of a previous Regional Telco Review in 2021 that was never acted upon. But certainly, it recognises that Australian farmers and primary producers are really great innovators; operating a farm or aquaculture or other form of primary production does involve technology, and it does involve the need to make sure that the greatest efficiencies and safety as well on farms is maintained. So, we're providing rebates of up to 50 per cent for eligible equipment and technology for farmers so they can implement smarter, better connected, more sustainable farming solutions.
 
Just to give some examples of this innovation, there can be monitoring activity with real time data -monitoring livestock, automated tank monitoring systems, farming equipment and supplies being safeguarded, so there's a whole range. It's a demand-driven program.
 
WALLACE: It has been a very popular program too, Minister. I'm wondering though, is it any coincidence that you've made this announcement in the marginal seat of Braddon and not in an area with poor mobile service?
 
ROWLAND: Well, certainly we know that there are parts of Tasmania that do have mobile connectivity that isn't at the standard, but we're very pleased to be here because we've had a number of farmers who've been very keen to tell their stories, including James today who operates a farm growing vegetables, who said he actually wouldn't have taken up the offer of ag-tech and installing it himself. He installed a weather monitoring station which enables him to have remote access. He wouldn't have done that if not for this program. So, it's an area where we know Tasmania is so reliant on its natural resources and its smart people. So, very pleased to have been able to make it to Tasmania today and look forward to continuing to monitor the progress of this really important scheme.
 
WALLACE: I am speaking with Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The polls indicate that you are on course to lose this federal election this year. Is this just a last ditch effort to try and change the minds of voters in northern Tasmania, Minister?
 
ROWLAND: Well, I think it's really important to recognise that people want to have a plan for the future, they want to see delivery of what Government has been doing and people will make up their minds. This is a democratic country. People will be looking towards not just popular slogans but solutions. In the portfolio here we committed to - before the last election - to invest some- you know, upgrading some 1.5 million premises to fibre. We've actually been delivering that on time and on budget and that's because we recognise the importance of having world-class infrastructure.
 
WALLACE: Well, while we're talking about the NBN in Tasmania, will our listeners ever get a service that is as fast, reliable and cheap as Australians on the mainland?
 
ROWLAND: Well, that's exactly what we are doing through upgrading with fibre. Because we know that fibre is the best infrastructure, it is the gold standard and that's why we want all Australians, including everyone in Tasmania who is eligible, to access fibre, to actually be able to do so.
 
WALLACE: How many years do you think that might be until we get that comparable service there, Minister Rowland?
 
ROWLAND: Well, we are delivering on our current trajectory. We are delivering in Tasmania from our last round and we're also ensuring that, of those 21,000 premises who will be upgraded through this latest announcement, 19,000 of those in regional areas, and that adds to the 74,000 premises that we've been able to enable access for full fibre under our current upgrade program
 
So, it's certainly a stark difference and voters this year, they are smart as I said, and they will have a choice. They'll have a choice about a future that is productive, that's connected, that is smart, or be taken back to the past with Peter Dutton who's offering no solutions and no policies.
 
WALLACE: Michelle Rowland, it sounds like you're definitely in election mode.
 
ROWLAND: Here in Tasmania, we are always looking to give the best outcomes for Tasmanians. So, glad to be here and so glad to be delivering for the good people of Tasmania.
 
WALLACE: Appreciate your time this afternoon, thank you so much.
 
ROWLAND: Pleasure.