One Gippsland Chair Cr Nathan Hersey, with deputy chair Cr Rochelle Halstead at Parliament House, where they visited the Communications Minster, raising concerns about mobile coverage black spots across Gippsland.
One Gippsland has welcomed a commitment by the Federal Government to provide basic universal outdoor mobile coverage, a move that will help to eliminate blackspots and be an invaluable lifeline during emergencies across Gippsland.
The Albanese Government has said that if re-elected, legislation will be introduced into parliament in late 2025 to expand the universal service framework to include mobile coverage.
Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) will require mobile carriers to provide access to mobile voice and SMS almost everywhere across Australia.
One Gippsland Chair Cr Nathan Hersey said the announcement had come off the back of sustained advocacy by One Gippsland and Gippsland councils over the past two years and, notably, just two weeks after a delegation travelled to Canberra to meet with the office of Minister Rowlands, Federal Minister for Communications.
The delegation, co-led by One Gippsland Deputy Chair Cr Rochelle Halstead, raised concerns on behalf of local councils across Gippsland.
"During our advocacy meeting, we made it clear that strong, reliable mobile coverage has the power to save lives during disasters and crisis situations. This is particularly true in Gippsland, which has endured more than 40 disasters over the past decade," Cr Hersey said.
"Our region has almost 500 registered black spots and our residents and business operators need reliable connectivity, including during times of sustained power outages.
"Telecommunications and digital connectivity are now a key element of disaster management and help our communities to be disaster-ready.
"Poor mobile coverage puts lives at risk and makes the job of our first responders and recovery teams much more difficult," Cr Hersey said.
"The availability of mobile service is not just a concern during emergencies, but it impacts Gippslanders every day, particularly those who live in black spots or are often frustrated to find themselves in a black or grey spot.
"Improving both mobile and internet connectivity, particularly in an emergency, will ensure Gippsland's residents, visitors, farmers and business can thrive," Cr Hersey said.
One Gippsland has provided six submissions to government processes and five pre-budget submissions since 2020 highlighting the need to improve digital connectivity throughout the region.
