The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is urging political parties to make firm commitments to improve digital connectivity in rural and regional Australia as part of their election platforms. While recent investments have expanded telecommunications infrastructure in some areas, the NFF maintains that many communities outside major cities still face significant service gaps.
NFF President David Jochinke emphasized that mobile and internet access is essential for daily farm operations, emergency response, and personal communication. He described rural connectivity as a basic necessity, not a luxury, and pointed to ongoing problems such as unreliable coverage, frequent dropouts, and lack of infrastructure in remote areas. He also stressed the importance of consistent service during natural disasters and harvest periods when coordination is crucial.
Farmers have reported specific challenges linked to recent network changes. Dan Skerman, a cotton and grain grower near Dalby in Queensland, said the recent shutdown of the 3G network has left many rural residents without basic mobile phone service. He noted that connectivity was already poor before the shutdown and that the lack of reliable communication tools is now affecting farm productivity. "One of the main ways we can gain efficiency these days is through good communications, but it's hard when you can't talk to people," he said.
The NFF has presented a series of proposals to address these concerns and has called on all political parties to adopt them. Central to these proposals is the full implementation of the recommendations made by the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee. These include increasing funding to improve mobile coverage across rural and remote areas, providing additional resources for the Regional Tech Hub to assist consumers with technology issues, and developing a comprehensive National Regional Telecommunications Strategy.
While the NFF acknowledges ongoing discussions with telecommunications providers, it argues that more direct government action is needed. Jochinke stated that rural voters are growing frustrated with delays and are looking for clear commitments from political leaders. The organisation believes that without coordinated efforts and long-term investment, the digital divide between metropolitan and regional Australia will continue to widen, putting both agricultural productivity and rural community wellbeing at risk.
For more information:
National Farmers' Federation
Tel: +61 (0) 2 6269 5617
Email: [email protected]
www.nff.org.au