MICHELLE ROWLAND MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS MEMBER FOR GREENWAY
AUSTRALIA DESERVES A MORE SERIOUS APPROACH TO REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY
Australia deserves a more serious approach to regional telecommunications than what is being offered by the Morrison-Joyce Government.
The 2021 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, chaired by the Hon Luke Hartsuyker, handed its findings and recommendations to the Minister in late 2021.
This was a considered report which warrants a robust and strategic response from Government.
An event was setup in Victoria today so Minister McKenzie could announce a response to the report and a policy.
Instead, the Minister turned up with nothing to announce, with some stakeholders travelling across the country to hear her reveal nothing of value.
This is very disappointing.
One wonders what happened since the AFR reported the plans by Josh Frydenberg and Bridget McKenzie to take on Elon Musk with an NBN upgrade.
Even in the absence of a major funding announcement, the Minister should have used the speech to outline a framework to position regional policy.
The failure to do even this basic task highlights much of what is wrong with the Morrison-Joyce Government.
This tired and increasingly ragged Government cannot be entrusted to deliver a better future. They don’t have a plan for today, let alone tomorrow.
