Bridging the digital divide in Far North Queensland

Sunshine, world-heritage listed biodiversity and culture dating back to the dreamtime – Far North Queensland is an ideal place to live, work and travel. 

The remoteness of some communities in the tropical north, however, presents some unique challenges when it comes to connectivity.

The Albanese Government is working to bridge this digital divide through the $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

Projects to boost broadband, Wi-Fi and telephone connectivity in communities like Aurukun, Horn Island, Mornington Island and Wujal Wujal in Cape York.

Or the 226 km of fibre optic cable between Burketown and Normanton creating additional network resiliency for 780,000 Queenslanders.

We are supporting our farmers and primary producers with rebates worth up to $30,000 to take advantage of state-of-the-art Ag-tech solutions through our On Farm Connectivity Program.

More than 24 farmers in the Cairns area have received a total of $234,000 collectively in rebates to date.

These technologies are assisting farmers to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use and streamline farm logistics.

We are also boosting the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure to help maintain connectivity through natural disasters. 

But we know more can be done.

The Regional Telecommunications Review will help inform our Government’s work to uplift connectivity by identifying key issues facing regional Australians in 2024. 

Former WA Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan is leading the independent review, supported by Kristy Sparrow, Fiona Nash, Dr Jessa Rogers and Ian Kelly.

This group has exactly the right experience and expertise to put a finger on the pulse of regional telecommunications and share a report card with our Government.

As part of the consultation process, the Committee has heard from a diverse range of stakeholders, like small business and industry, community and First Nations groups, and state and local government. 

Good policy and good policy outcomes are, after all, collaborative and evidence-based. 

The Committee held face-to-face meetings in Cairns, Thursday Island and Mornington Island in June. I thank everyone who took part.

The Review heard that remote communities like those in the Torres Strait are suffering constant outages that are impacting families and businesses.

Community members also felt that more engagement from telcos would lead to better outcomes. 

The last Regional Telecommunications Review was undertaken in 2021 and we have since acted on many key findings. 

The 2021 review coincided with the dramatic shift to remote and flexible working brought about by the global pandemic; a way of working that has since become the new normal for many households. 

In 2024, as demand for data continues to grow, it is essential every Australian is well connected regardless of postcode or circumstance.

Not only to log-in to work, study, shop or scroll, but to access essential healthcare, banking and government services delivered online.

Labor is supporting regional Australians with improved connectivity. 

Households and businesses across Queensland are benefiting from our substantial investment in the NBN.

By 2025, more than 970,000 premises in the state will have access to the full fibre footprint. More than 720,000 of these already do. 

The 162,000 premises on NBN fixed wireless will get speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps). 

For customers reliant on SkyMuster, we have introduced uncapped data – another recommendation of the previous Regional Telecommunications Review. 

We have connected more than 3,800 families across Queensland to free home broadband through the School Student Broadband Initiative. Many of the households participating are in the regions.  

We have made it mandatory for telcos to prioritise keeping customers experiencing financial hardship connected. 

And we’re considering the role of new technologies in the Universal Service Obligation – a longstanding safeguard to ensure reliable voice services to rural and remote consumers. 

Together, these initiatives are designed to help bridge the digital divide and ensure regional Australia is better connected than ever.

I look forward to receiving the Regional Telecommunications Review report card later this year, and seeing how we can continue to build a future where connectivity is yet another reason to live, work and visit Far North Queensland.