Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last year, I stood here and warned the government about the very real dangers facing my constituents in the Central Highlands of Tasmania—people who fear that, without urgent action, someone in their community will die. For years, the Central Highlands has put up with patchy mobile phone and internet reception, coverage so poor it stops emergency volunteers from doing their jobs. Let's be clear: Miena might be small, but it's a major destination for Tasmanians and interstate tourists heading to the Great Lake, Cradle Mountain and other iconic natural attractions.

Why does mobile phone service matter? Because, in the Central Highlands, our emergency services depend on it. Without reliable phone and internet coverage, response times blow out and lives are put at risk. Over 100 people came to a public meeting last year to raise these exact concerns. We heard that the local police constable sleeps with her police radio on because she can't trust her mobile to receive calls. Residents told us they literally have to hike to the top of the nearest hill just to get reception.

After that meeting, I wrote to the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, spelling out the urgency of these issues. To say her response was disappointing doesn't go far enough. Instead of providing solutions, the minister pointed the finger at the telcos, blaming their commercial decision to close the 3G network. But the truth is simple. This is an infrastructure problem, and refusing to commit to fixing it is a failure to uphold even the most basic standards like the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation. This was proudly spruiked by Labor as part of their re-election promises, but it seems that commitment only counts when the campaign buses are rolling.

For emergency workers and volunteers, telecommunications coverage isn't optional—it's not 'nice to have'. It's a critical tool, just as essential as a uniform, a radio or a first-aid kit, and, when your job is to respond to emergencies, seconds matter. It's time Labor treated this like the serious safety issue it is, it's time they stopped passing the buck, and it's time they delivered the basic services regional communities— (Time expired)