Nine out of ten Queensland communities will likely suffer a crippling digital blackout when natural disaster strikes, councils are warning, with residents also suffering day-to-day digital poverty of slow internet and widespread mobile black spots.
Research by the Local Government Association of Queensland has found limited competition, inconsistent internet speeds and widespread mobile black spots were critical issues continuing to impact many areas – and posing significant risk to Queenslanders, particularly during disasters.
More than 90 per cent of councils surveyed believed it to be at least likely that connectivity would be lost during an emergency, while 76 per cent of respondents reported that towns in their region had experienced more than a day without connectivity in the past 12 months.
LGAQ chief executive officer Alison Smith said that it was clear a new approach was needed if Queenslanders were ever to receive equitable access to reliable digital connectivity.
“It is unacceptable that in 2024 we are still seeing such significant disparity in mobile phone coverage and reliability of phone services, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, including First Nations communities,” Ms Smith said.
“The impact of these challenges on community liveability and safety, particularly during disasters or emergency – is profound.”
Councils have also highlighted mobile black spots as a significant issue in conjunction with an ongoing lack of availability to local community health services, which the LGAQ included in its submission to the 2024 Federal Regional Telecommunications Review.
Ms Smith said that while councils welcomed the opportunity to provide recommendations to the Federal Review, they were also calling on the State Government to support a new formal partnership approach across all three levels of government to get infrastructure to where connectivity is needed.
“It’s clear that the current approach is failing many Queenslanders,” Ms Smith said.
“As we head toward the October state election, it’s time for all sides of politics to listen to the communities who feel the daily the impact of patchy and failed telecommunication – and support a new way of addressing these challenges.
“Councils know their community needs best – and need to be at the heart of decision making to ensure we close the digital divide for good.”
The LGAQ’s Vote for Local campaign is calling on Queenslanders to let their local priorities inform their vote ahead of the October State Election.
An interim Local Government Report Card released this month marked the Greens highest for their response to community priorities to build safe, resilient and liveable communities, receiving a C+ – with the LNP and Labor both receiving a C.
Voters can visit www.voteforlocal.com.au and see how the political parties are stacking up on issues like closing the digital divide ahead of casting their vote in October.
You can read the full LGAQ Submission to the 2024 Federal Regional Telecommunications Review here.
Video of LGAQ CEO Alison Smith available here.
For more information, please contact:
Dan Knowles, Media Advisor