ALGA has provided a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport’s inquiry into the shutdown of Australia’s 3G mobile network.
The submission highlighted many councils located outside of metropolitan areas or urban centres and are faced with the challenges of living further away from key infrastructure, economic opportunities, and in some cases reliable mobile and digital connectivity.
ALGA strongly encouraged the Federal Government to undertake a targeted education campaign to support communities that will be most vulnerable after the 3G shutdown and who will not have upgraded to newer handsets.
ALGA also urged the committee to recommend that mobile network operators (MNO) work with local governments to identify how many active 3G handsets and devices there are in regions, and how many community members may be impacted.