Member for Barker Tony Pasin has doubled down on his criticism of the shutdown of the nation’s 3G mobile network, stating the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry into the matter “found the shutdown should have been handled better”.
Mr Pasin said the committee’s final report has reiterated what constituents in Barker have been reporting since October 28, 2024, when Telstra and Optus switched off their 3G networks.
“The Albanese Labor Government managed the 3G switch off promising that no one would experience poorer mobile phone reception as a result,” Mr Pasin said.
“The evidence given by many rural Australians through this committee inquiry speaks to the loss of mobile phone access despite that promise.”
Mr Pasin said the committee heard stories from across the country that vindicate the experience of those in Barker.
“To add salt to the wound for Barker residents, Labor announced 27 new towers in the Limestone Coast 18 months ago, yet no attempt was made to ensure these towers were operational prior to the 3G switch off,” Mr Pasin said.
“On the contrary, these towers remain held up in government bureaucracy, as Barker residents are forced to pay thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs just to receive basic services, or live without mobile phone service and contend with the safety concerns of living and working in disaster prone areas of the country.
“The committee’s report has backed up what I have been saying for months; after more than two years of the Albanese Labor Government mobile reception in Barker is now considerably worse than it was under the former Coalition Government.
“In 2022, Anthony Albanese promised no one would be left behind under the Albanese Labor government. Unfortunately, it seems he was not talking about regional Australia. We seem to be going backwards.
“Now, in a desperate attempt to appear to take action on this matter Labor has rushed an announcement about a so called ‘Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation’ on the eve of the election, with no detail which areas of the country would be covered under that ‘Obligation’, how much it will cost or who will pay for it.”
