Communities to be consulted on telecommunications issues across Australia

The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee is assessing the adequacy of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.

The Committee will launch a series of nation-wide public meetings today in Perth.

The Committee, chaired by Dr Bill Glasson AO, will start the public meetings in Western Australia and travel across the country to 19 destinations to hear from regional, rural and remote communities on telecommunications issues.

The Committee is encouraging individuals, businesses, community and industry organisations, education, health and government service providers, carriers and others to contribute their views to the Review by attending the public meetings, Dr Glasson said.

The Committees ability to provide sound advice to the Australian Government on areas needing attention depends on the views of those living in Australias regional, rural and remote communities.

The public meetings follow on from the Committees call for submissions in which we received a number of documents from every state and territory addressing current telecommunications issues across Australia.

We are now looking forward to hearing directly from communities on telecommunications issues affecting their area, Dr Glasson said.

The Committee will use the information collected through public meetings and written submissions to compile a report that will be presented to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. The report will make recommendations on the future of telecommunications in regional, rural and remote Australia.

Committee members include Dr Bill Glasson AO (Chair), Ms Alexandra Gartmann, Mr Mark Needham, Councillor Bruce Scott and Mrs Josephine Stone AM.

Further information about the Review and the Committee members are available from the website at www.rtirc.gov.au or by phone 1800 064 851 (free call).

Interviews: Committee Chair Dr Bill Glasson AO on 07 3831 0101