Reliable telecommunications are a lifeline in regional Australia, connecting families, protecting livelihoods and providing access to emergency services when lives are at risk. I rise to support the member for Mallee's motion, recognising the introduction of temporary disaster roaming on 1 October 2026 while highlighting the infrastructure gaps that continue to leave regional Australians vulnerable. Developed by Australia's three major mobile network operators, temporary disaster roaming allows customers affected by natural disaster outages to potentially connect to another functioning network for calls, texts and basic mobile data. But its effectiveness depends on another network being available and having sufficient capacity. You cannot roam onto a network that simply isn't there. For communities served by only one provider, this initiative offers little protection when that network fails.

Across Capricornia, from the Capricorn Coast to Clermont and our rural districts, dependable communications are essential, particularly when severe weather cuts roads and delays emergency assistance. For central Queensland farmers, connectivity can mean the difference between saving livestock and suffering devastating losses. Flood warnings give producers precious time to move cattle to higher ground. Bushfire updates help them to move stock to safer paddocks, protect property and make decisions that safeguard their families. When the network fails, that vital window to act can disappear.

Inadequate coverage also threatens vulnerable Australians who depend on mobile connected medical alert devices. Recently, my office heard from a constituent who relies on such a device because of her health and personal circumstances. She has already experienced failures caused by poor mobile coverage, even without a major network outage. A device designed to summon potentially life-saving assistance offers little reassurance if it cannot connect when help is needed. For older Australians and people living with disabilities, reliable coverage supports independence, dignity and the confidence that assistance is within reach. When someone presses an emergency button, they need to know their call for help can get through. Their life may depend on it. That is why improving connectivity cannot be limited to disaster response alone.

Forecasts of elevated bushfire risks for the 2026-27 summer season underscore the importance of resilient networks. During fires, floods and severe storms, mobile services carry warnings, evacuation advice and vital information for first responders, yet disasters can damage towers, interrupt power supplies and overwhelm capacity, Temporary disaster roaming can help when networks overlap, but it cannot create coverage where none exist or guarantee services where multiple networks fail. No network means no service, and, during a disaster, that can mean the difference between life and death. The government needs a comprehensive strategy to deliver reliable connectivity before, during and after emergencies. That means identifying communities where roaming cannot operate; accelerating investment in mobile coverage, backup power and network redundancy; and ensuring providers are accountable for addressing known vulnerabilities.

I acknowledge Telstra's efforts to improve regional coverage, including planned upgrades serving growing communities like those on the Capricorn Coast, but meeting regional needs requires sustained cooperation between government and industry, and improvements must extend beyond coverage maps. A signal advertised on paper does not always translate into a dependable connection inside a home or across a remote property. Regional Australians contribute enormously to our economy through agriculture, resources, tourism and small business. They should not be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to telecommunications and emergency preparedness. Temporary disaster roaming is a welcome step, but it must be the beginning of a lasting commitment to stronger infrastructure, not an excuse to delay it. A regional postcode should never put someone's life at greater risk simply because they cannot make a phone call. I commend the motion to the House.