10 November 2011

The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee will hold public meetings in Gladstone, Townsville and Mt Isa on 15-18 November to discuss local telecommunications issues.

‘The committee is looking forward to travelling to Gladstone, Townsville and Mt Isa to meet with members of the community and hear about their telecommunications experiences,’ said the committee’s chair, Ms Rosemary Sinclair.

‘Over the last six weeks, the committee has met with a range of community members in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. We would like to thank those people who came along.

‘We are keen to learn from the experiences of consumers, businesses and organisations about telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia. Those who are unable to attend the meetings can also make a written submission to the review by 1 December 2011,’ Ms Sinclair said.

On 16 September, the committee released its issues paper, which sets out five key areas of interest for the 2011-12 Regional Telecommunications Review:

• opportunities the emerging digital economy provides for regional Australians
• improving regional health and education outcomes
• the communications needs of Indigenous people and communities
• developments in the terrestrial and satellite mobile phone sector
• consumer concerns of people and businesses in regional, rural and remote Australia.

Following the regional consultations and public submission process, the committee will report its findings to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in March 2012.

Further information about the review, including the issues paper and how to make a submission, is available at www.rtirc.gov.au or by calling 1800 064 851 (free-call on a landline service).

Media inquiries: 02 6271 1777 or media@dbcde.gov.au