Growers have raised concerns about worsened connectivity following the 3G shutdown last year. Photo: NFF

DARLING Downs cotton and grain grower Dan Skerman has joined a growing chorus of farmers urging all sides of politics to commit to closing the digital divide facing rural and regional communities ahead of the federal election.

Mr Skerman’s experience shows that the recent 3G network shutdown left many rural Australians without a basic mobile phone service.

“We already struggled before they turned 3G off,” Mr Skerman said.

He said the poor connectivity was affecting his business’s productivity.

“One of the main ways we can gain efficiency these days is through good communications but it’s hard when you can’t talk to people.

“It’s definitely frustrating when you are trying to organise and run a farm.”

Dan Skerman

The National Farmers’ Federation have joined Mr Skerman in calling for more investment in reliable connectivity for farmers and rural communities.

NFF president David Jochinke said that while significant investment has been made in recent years, we’re still a long way from fixing the rural and regional connectivity problem.

“Whether it’s calling for help in an emergency, coordinating logistics during harvest, or simply staying connected with loved ones – bush connectivity is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline,” Mr Jochinke said.

The National Farmers’ Federation has called on all political parties to adopt a suite of measures to improve rural connectivity, including implementing the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee’s recommendations—such as funding better mobile coverage, expanding technical support, and developing a national strategy—alongside opening further rounds of the On Farm Connectivity Program.

Mr Jochinke said rural, regional and remote constituents deserved reliable and resilient connectivity, and he acknowledged productive discussions with telecommunication providers, but it’s time for the Federal Government to step up.

“This election, we’ve put all parties on notice: rural voters are tired of buffering, dropouts and excuses. They want solutions, they want to be connected” Mr Jochinke said.

Grains industry backs move

Industry bodies Grain Producers Australia, Cotton Australia and GrainGrowers have also backed these calls for increased investment in digital connectivity in their election priority documents.

Among its priorities, GPA appealed for political parties to back policies that improve digital connectivity and ensure more reliable access to essential communications in rural areas.

The group noted that it was especially crucial to improve the delivery of essential community support services, including fires, natural disasters and mental health.

GrainGrowers called telecommunications a “core enabler of national farm productivity” in its policy priority document.

“Efficient and effective bush telecommunications provide a high productivity multiplier and therefore widespread whole of economy returns, while ensuring grain regions are not left behind in an increasingly digital economy,” the document said.

“Therefore, GrainGrowers asks that an independent national agency and funding pipeline be established to undertake ongoing surveillance and audit of mobile coverage and performance across regional Australia, and highlight areas where improvements are needed most.”

GPA chair and WA grain grower Barry Large said investing in regional areas to support the ongoing productivity of Australian grain producers would deliver broader economic benefits.

“People are at the centre of everything we do in the Australian grains industry,” Mr Large said.

“That’s why it’s a smart investment and political no brainer to back our industry; starting where the grain is actually produced.

“Backing our farmers provides grass roots strength to continuing growing the shared benefits and prosperity delivered for our industry, the economy, environment, and rural communities.”

Source: NFF, Cotton Australia, GrainGrowers, GPA