We the undersigned join together as a Coalition to highlight our collective concern about the lack of equitable access to reliable and quality telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia. We represent the businesses, communities and families of rural and regional Australia.
Our members include some of the most innovative businesses and individuals in Australia. Yet we remain locked out of future economic growth and prosperity through the digital divide – undermining Australia’s productivity.
We firmly believe that access to better communications services across regional Australia will lead to better outcomes for the entire nation.
As a Coalition, we believe there are five fundamental outcomes that must be addressed to ensure equitable connectivity for regional and remote consumers. These are:
- Guaranteed access to voice and data services
- Equitable voice and data services that meet minimum standards and reliability
- Continued program to expand mobile coverage
- Digital capacity building for regional, rural and remote Australia
- Affordable communications services for regional, rural and remote Australia.
These outcomes are ambitious, achievable, and reflect the pressing need for change.
However, they cannot be achieved without leadership and cooperation from government, opposition parties and the private sector. A united ongoing commitment and strategic approach is needed.
Without leadership, and without change, Australia risks growing and entrenching the digital divide between urban and rural telecommunications users. We risk undermining the opportunities presented by digital innovation to the farming community and rural Australia as a whole.
We call on all relevant parties to take action to deliver equitable telecommunications access for regional Australians.
The RRRCC has outlined our goals for 2021 in the 2021 goals brochure.
For more information, go to the National Farmers' Federation campaign page.
Canberra Delegation - September 2019
Read more about the delegation in this media release.
The Coalition produced the below updated documents to outline its goals to MPs and Senators during the delegation.
Download: RRRCC goals document - 2019 Canberra delegation46.91 KB
Download: RRRCC goals document - 2019 Canberra delegation1.87 MB
Canberra Delegation - March 2017
On 20-21 March, 2017, members of the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition formed a delegation in Canberra to meet with Parliamentarians and highlight issues with telecommunications in rural and regional areas. Collectively, the group met with more than 50 MPs and Senators. The delegation received a positive and encouraging response from many Parliamentarians they visited.
Read more about the delegation in this media release.
The Coalition produced the below documents to outline its goals to MPs and Senators during the delegation.
Download: RRRCC goals document - Canberra delegation1.29 MB
Download: RRRCC goals document - Canberra delegation208.71 KB
Members of the Coalition are:
Members of the Coalition are:
ACCAN | www.accan.org.au |
Australian Forest Products Association | www.ausfpa.com.au |
AgForce Queensland | www.agforceqld.org.au |
Better Internet for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia | www.birrraus.com |
Cotton Australia | www.cottonaustralia.com.au |
Country Women’s Association of NSW | www.cwaofnsw.org.au |
Country Women’s Association of SA | www.sacwa.org.au |
Country Women’s Association of Australia | www.cwaa.org.au |
Grain Growers | www.graingrowers.com.au |
Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association | www.icpa.com.au |
National Farmers’ Federation | www.nff.org.au |
National Rural Health Alliance | www.ruralhealth.org.au |
National Rural Women's Coalition | www.nrwc.com.au |
NSW Farmers | www.nswfarmers.org.au |
Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association | www.ntca.org.au |
Pastoralists’ Association of West Darling | www.pawd.org.au |
QLD Farmers’ Federation | www.qff.org.au |
Royal Flying Doctor Service QLD | www.flyingdoctor.org.au/qld |
Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc. | www.rga.org.au |
Victorian Farmers Federation | www.vff.org.au |
WA Farmers | www.wafarmers.org.au |
Download: Regional Rural and Remote Communications Coalition Statement323.67 KB
Download: Regional Rural and Remote Communications Coalition Statement294.95 KB