Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The incorporated speech read as follows—

I rise today to strongly support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, a bill that will make a tangible, everyday difference for Australians in every electorate, especially for those living in our fast-growing suburbs and our outer-metro communities, like in my electorate of Pearce and the regions that keep this nation moving. I want to start, as I always do, with the people behind this policy—the families, the small-business owners and the community volunteers who have told me again and again that mobile coverage is not just about convenience anymore. It's about connection, about safety and about opportunity.

We've all experienced that moment of frustration—standing outside our homes, phone in hand, waving it about trying to find that one bar of reception. For some of us, it's a nuisance. But for too many communities, that dropped call is more than an inconvenience; it's a barrier to living, working, learning and, sometimes, even surviving. When a tradie can't process an online payment on a job site, when a parent can't reach their child's school because the signal keeps dropping, when a driver on a regional road can't call for help after an accident, that's when the reality hits home. This is not a luxury; mobile coverage is essential infrastructure. It's how we connect, how we do business and how we stay safe.

This bill finally gives that truth the weight it deserves in law. It creates a universal outdoor mobile obligation, a clear standard that says: every Australian should have reliable outdoor mobile coverage no matter where they live, work or travel. It enshrines the idea that reliable communications are not negotiable; they are part of the social and economic fabric of this country. What this legislation does is straightforward yet transformative. It ensures that telecommunications providers meet minimum standards for coverage in outdoor areas and that those standards apply consistently across all regions. It provides the framework for monitoring, for reporting and for accountability. It's not enough to rely on goodwill; Australians deserve guarantees.

I represent one of the largest and fastest growing electorates in the country. Every week, new families move in to our northern suburbs. Every month, new suburbs and estates come online. The streets appear almost overnight and the houses fill quickly, yet, time and time again, the infrastructure lags behind. Mobile coverage is one of the most common issues raised when I meet with residents and local community groups. I remember speaking with a young family in one of our newer estates. They told me their home didn't have fixed-line internet connected yet, so they relied entirely on mobile data, but the signal was so weak that even downloading a banking app could take many minutes. They had considered moving because they needed to work from home and couldn't. That's not an isolated story; it's happening daily across countless new communities. The reality is that these families aren't asking for anything extravagant. They're asking for the same basic level of service that many take for granted. They're asking for a fair go. And that's what this bill delivers.

It's also important to remember that Australia's geography adds unique challenges. We are a vast nation, with enormous distances and dispersed populations. That's why the principle of universal access has always been part of our telecommunications story, from the early telephone networks through to broadband and now mobile coverage. This bill strengthens that legacy for the mobile era.

Let's be very clear about what outdoor mobile coverage means in practical terms. It means being able to make a call or send a message when standing outside or inside your home, walking the dog at your local oval or pulling over safely on a remote highway. That's not asking for too much. It's simply setting a baseline that ensures Australians can rely on a connection when it matters most. The Albanese Labor government's vision is absolutely clear: make Australia the most connected continent in the world.

For residents in outer-metro and fast-growing fringe suburbs, this is game changing. It means that new estates will no longer be an afterthought when networks expand. For regions, it means that those long road stretches or sparsely populated areas get the recognition they deserve in national infrastructure planning. And, for small businesses, it means reliability. Across my electorate, small business is the lifeblood of our economy. From home based enterprises that rely on mobile internet to tradies using mobile payment systems and local cafes managing online orders, success depends on staying connected. When a call drops, a sale can be lost. When coverage falters, operations stumble. Connectivity is not just about communication anymore; it's about productivity.

I recently met a local builder who told me he couldn't update digital site logs from some parts of his development area, because the mobile signal kept vanishing. He said, 'Tracey, I can see the tower from here; I just can't get to it.' That frustration is so common it's almost become a punchline. But, for those running a business, it's serious. It affects livelihoods and planning, and ultimately it affects confidence in our local economy.

Beyond business and daily life, this bill is also about safety. That's perhaps the most compelling reason why we must act. In every emergency, moments matter. Whether it's during bushfires, floods or road accidents, being able to make that emergency call can mean the difference between life and death. In regional and rural Australia and even along the edges of our cities, gaps in coverage can have devastating consequences. I've heard from volunteer firefighters, local SES teams and emergency coordinators who rely on residents to raise the alarm. Without coverage, that crucial window for response can close too soon. This legislation provides greater assurance that those critical calls will go through, wherever Australians are. It's about giving people peace of mind—to know that, if they break down on the highway or if a loved one gets into trouble, they can reach someone. You can't put a price on that kind of security.

Of course, success depends on accountability and collaboration. Telecommunications companies will now be held to new performance standards, and they'll need to report transparently on how they meet these obligations. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will provide oversight, ensuring compliance isn't optional. This approach is balanced. It's not about burdening industry; it's about partnership. It's about ensuring that investment and innovation align with the national interest.

I also want to acknowledge the many councils and regional alliances that have campaigned for this outcome. Local governments have long been the voice of their communities on this issue, mapping out coverage gaps, submitting funding proposals and advocating with persistence and purpose. In my time as mayor and now as a member of this parliament, I have seen firsthand the power of that collaboration. Their advocacy has helped shape this legislation. I want to recognise the many residents who have taken the time to send coverage maps, signal tests and photos showing where their reception cuts out. Those efforts have mattered. When we legislate something as significant as universal mobile access, it's not just a technical policy achievement; it's a testament to community determination.

As we look to Australia's digital future, this bill is also a foundational piece of that journey. The move to 5G and beyond promises enormous benefits—faster data, smarter devices and new economic opportunities. But we can't leave anyone behind as we step into that future. A universal outdoor mobile obligation sets the base upon which all these new technologies can expand equitably. It means the acceleration of progress doesn't come at the cost of inclusion.

It is also worth acknowledging the broader benefits to health and education. Telehealth, for example, is now a permanent part of our healthcare system. For people in semi-rural areas, reliable mobile coverage means being able to participate in remote consultations without interruption or lag. For students studying online, it means equal access to resources and lessons, not falling behind because the signal drops out.

This reform is not simply about technology. It's about fairness. It's about recognising that connectivity is now fundamental to how Australians live, work and care for one another. I've often said that the mark of good policy is that it improves daily life—not in abstract ways but in real, tangible experiences. This legislation achieves that. It takes something that frustrates people every day, and it fixes it with foresight and fairness. It reflects a government that listens, that acts and that cares about outcomes for people in every corner of the country. So, as we debate this today, I want to remind the House what this bill truly represents. It represents a fair go for outer-suburban families. It represents safety and peace of mind for regional travellers. It represents opportunity for small business and resilience for our economy. And it represents dignity—the dignity of being able to rely on a basic service that connects you to your world.

It's 2026. Australians have every right to expect that, when they step outside their home, they will have mobile reception. It shouldn't depend on which side of a postcode line you live on or whether your suburb was built five years ago or fifty years ago. This bill draws that line clearly. It says, 'We are one connected nation.' Our communities have asked for action. The Albanese Labor government has listened. And now, through this bill, we are delivering. I am proud to support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, and I commend it to the House.

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