Fairfax Digital Media Central West has given Calare’s Federal Election candidates the opportunity to answer the questions our readers posed to them via our social media sites.
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In the lead up to the election we will run a question each day, with the responses we received from candidates.
Each candidate was contacted via phone and email. Their responses are below.
How are you planning on improving mobile phone coverage? Will you lobby for the roll out of digital radio across Australia? What are you policies to help the housing situation in towns in your electorate?
John Cobb (Nationals)
No response
Billie Kirkland (Katter’s Australian Party)
I will lobby for the ROLL OUT OF Digital radio by working with the Australian Communication Authority. 97% of Australians listen to the radio with radio revenue being $674 million last year, discussed There needs to be assistance from the commercial radio industry's for funding assistance to roll out digital radio to regional areas, similar to the funding that was given to the tv industry for the digital tv roll out.
Ian Lyons (Christian Democratic Party – Fred Nile Group)
Mobile phone coverage: To improve mobile phone coverage is very important. It is a matter of continually putting pressure on the Government.
Digital radio: At this stage I would not lobby for the roll out of Digital Radio.
Housing: To increase funding for housing. Also high density building in certain areas.
Jess Jennings (Labor)
Mobile phone coverage: What people might not realise is that Labor’s NBN rollout includes the deployment of hundreds of fixed wireless towers across regional and remote Australia to cover black spots because these NBN towers can be used to improve the mobile coverage of all telecommunications companies.
NBN Co has already entered into agreements with both Telstra and Optus to use NBN infrastructure to improve mobile coverage, and the NBN is the largest ever investment in regional telecommunications in our country’s history, that will only be delivered by Labor.
Labor’s approach allows additional coverage for customers and more choice for people in rural and regional areas. Seventy per cent of regional homes and businesses will be connected directly to the NBN’s fibre network. Labor has also directed NBN Co to charge the same prices for broadband in the bush as they charge in the cities. This is something the Coalition will abolish.
Digital radio: Yes I fully support digital radio, and want it I our regions as quickly as possible. I will lobby the Minister for Communications and also the ABC for the fastest possible rollout. It should be noted that under Labor, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is currently conducting a trial of digital radio in regional areas (Darwin and Canberra) in conjunction with Commercial Radio Australia. Decisions on the future of digital radio will depend on the outcomes of this trial.
Housing: I will investigate any housing shortages across the electorate, including homelessness issues and also young homelessness and respond according to the results found.
Macgregor Ross (Independent)
Electronic infrastructure is the issue right now – it is probably the most defining issue between regional Australia and the City States – we need someone to make sure we get a good deal – Google will be arriving soon – see what infrastructure they want to build!
Brian Cain (Palmer United Party)
I suffer greatly from poor reception where I live in the town of Cargo and have two phones with different providers. Only a better economy will encourage the private companies running mobile networks to expand. It was the Howard government that sold of Telstra.
David Mallard (The Greens)
Mobile phone coverage: Public investment in the NBN, which the Greens have supported and strengthened, provides the opportunity for mobile providers to get competitively priced ‘backhaul’ in regional areas. This will allow them to more easily fill in mobile black spots by installing new towers that connect into that network.
Digital radio: I support expansion of digital radio broadcasting, and the Greens’ community broadcasting package includes $1.4 million to extend digital community radio, including in the regions.
Housing: Housing needs to be treated as a human right, but the pressure on house prices and rental shortages in some areas pushes people into housing stress and our homelessness crisis in worsening. The Greens plan to urgently increase homelessness services and rapidly deliver a large increase in social housing to cut waiting lists. In the private market, our Rental Supply Boost would build 85,000 new affordable rentals. We need to promote innovations in design, sustainability and energy efficiency.
Anthony Craig (Democratic Labour Party)
Investing in a development bank or regional development fund will help address these concerns
Peter Schultze (Australia First Party)
Yes. Yes. I will listen to and work with the technicians – the experts in this area and support the most effective means of addressing these needs.
Largely these are matters for State Parliament and Local Government. I will work with them to reduce red tape, reduce delays and fees, so that builders can get on with the job of building more necessary housing.
TOMORROW: What are your personal views and your party platforms in relations to Coal Seam Gas extraction.
