More coverage needed for Peninsula Development Road
MEDIA RELEASE
19 July 2019
Following a 3000-kilometre road trip from Ipswich to Bamaga, Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has identified a need to accelerate the installation of new mobile phone base stations on the Peninsula Development Road and improve much-needed coverage.
The One Nation leader has written to the Minister for Communications, Mark Fletcher and identified Bramwell Station, Archer River Roadhouse and Musgrave Roadhouse as priorities due to the forecast increase in visitor numbers of up to 77% by 2020 and a constant breakdown of public phone boxes.
Senator Hanson said, “Mobile coverage is essential in remote locations that encounter hazardous flooding and accidents involving wildlife and other vehicles.”
“I’ve spoken to the operators at Archer River, Musgrave and Bramwell Station, and each of them has told me that coin jams can leave a public phone box out of action for weeks on end until a technician comes up from Cairns to clear the problem.”
The Queensland Senator has suggested converting mobile black spot payphones to free phones that would keep tourists and travellers in contact with family and friends while removing the need for technicians to drive up to 800 kilometres for coin mechanism repairs.
“When you can sign up to an unlimited phone plan for $55 a month and make as many local, STD and mobile calls as you like, I tend to think this would be a cheaper option than sending a technician on a day’s drive to dislodge a few coins stuck in a phone box,” Senator Hanson said.
While the Federal Government have named Archer River Roadhouse and Musgrave Roadhouse as a part of their Round 4 priorities, coverage will only be provided to Optus customers.
“I’ll be speaking with the new Communications Minister over the next fortnight regarding the need to share vital infrastructure amongst all mobile providers in remote locations, along with the need to expedite the installation of new mobile towers in these three Tropical North Queensland locations,” Senator Hanson said.
Senator Hanson has committed to revisit the region within the next 12 months and help provide a stronger voice to Far North Queensland regions often ignored by politicians.
