Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ready for takeoff

Media Release from Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 06 November 2023

The Australian Government has today opened applications for Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program to enhance the safety and accessibility of airstrips in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

The tenth round of the program will provide up to $12 million in grant funding for sites in remote areas nationwide, with projects set to be delivered between 2024 and 2026.

Australia’s remote airstrip network provides vital access between remote communities and major regional centres, while also enabling the delivery of urgent supplies and the coordination of life-saving flights for those in need.

Many eligible airstrips also service remote First Nations communities, aiding their access to vital services and supplies.

Eligible airstrip owners or operators can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $3 million for works to improve remote airstrip safety and access.

The grant guidelines are now available online and applications for the program open 6 November 2023 and close on 15 December 2023.

Additional details about the program, including the guidelines for Round 10, can be found here.

Driving EV charging into regional tourism hot spots

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Energy and Climate Change and the Minister for Regional NSW

MEDIA RELEASE | 3 November 2023

Residents and tourists in regional NSW can now drive their electric vehicles with greater confidence as the Minns government delivers more EV chargers through the Destination Charging Program.

Applications are now open for small to medium regional tourism businesses and councils to install EV charging infrastructure.

Successful applicants will receive 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing up to four charge points at each site.

The $10 million allocated for round two of the Destination Charging Program is expected to support the installation at least 1,500 EV charge ports at tourism destinations. Destinations could include motels, wineries, cafes, restaurants, natural attractions, visitor information centres, museums, zoos and local government facilities.

Following the successful rollout of the chargers, a series of EV tourist drives will be developed to promote EV travel across NSW.

The Destination Charging Program is part of a $209 million investment in charging infrastructure which also includes $10 million in grants to retrofit apartments with EV chargers, $10 million for more kerbside charging and $149 million for ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

The NSW Government has also committed an additional $260 million in the 2023–24 Budget to underpin the rollout of a new NSW EV Strategy being delivered in partnership with industry stakeholders which is a key driver to achieving our state’s Net Zero emissions targets.

Find out more about EV destination grantslaunch

Major changes to small business procurement

Media Release from the NSW Premier, the NSW Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement and the NSW Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE | 5 November 2023

The NSW Government has delivered on its commitment to boost government procurement of goods and services from small and medium businesses with a major change to government procurement.

A direction has been signed today, increasing the level at which government departments and agencies can purchase goods and services directly from small and medium businesses from $150,000 to $250,000.

The state’s 840,000 small businesses make up 98% of all NSW businesses, employing 1.6 million people in NSW – it’s these businesses and jobs that will be turbocharged by this change.

Each year, the NSW Government spends over $9 billion on goods and services obtained directly from 46,000 small and medium businesses in NSW and this change to procurement will deliver more government contracts going to these businesses and a bigger slice of government procurement spend.

This Ministerial Direction was issued to the NSW Procurement Board and requires agencies to implement this policy change no later than 31 December 2023.

It also serves as an important signal to government agencies to directly engage small businesses when procuring goods and services, including for:

• catering, food and beverage services at state-owned museums, galleries, venues and sites

• office supplies and furniture for government offices and buildings

• maintenance and repairs, including ground maintenance and landscaping at government facilities

• the development of training resources, including for health and wellness support.

The Government has also eased procurement requirements for small businesses which will no longer be required to submit proof of insurance when they tender. Instead, proof of insurance will only be required when a contract is awarded.

This is in addition to the NSW Government making a number of other significant changes to support small businesses in NSW, including:

• Launched the Service NSW Business Bureaulaunch, which will give small business owners a seat at the table with a commitment to tackling unproductive red tape, helping businesses navigate government and boosting growth opportunities.

• Delivered major upgrades to the Service NSW Business Bureau App.

• Successfully delivered Small Business Month with over 600 events across the state.

• Delivered energy bill relief for more than 300,000 businesses and toll relief for more than 700,000 Western Sydney families and businesses.

• Launched the Service NSW Business Grants and Funding Finder, bringing more than 500 grants across 46 agencies into one place, to make accessing financial support easier for businesses across the state.

These changes do not apply to construction businesses.

The NSW Government has extensive fraud and compliance checks in place to maintain the integrity of government procurement.

For more information visit buy.nswlaunch

Apply now for RDA Committee Chair Positions

Applications are now open for 6 RDA Committee Chair positions commencing 1 January 2024.

RDA Committee Chair positions are currently available for:

1. RDA Southern NSW and ACT (NSW)

2. RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven (NSW)

3. RDA Barwon South West (VIC)

4. RDA Gippsland (VIC)

5. RDA Greater Whitsundays (QLD)

6. RDA Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast (QLD).

Applications close at 5pm AEDT on Monday 13 November 2023. 

• Share:  LinkedIn

• Learn more: RDA Chair information pack  

• Need information: RDA@infrastructure.gov.au

ANZSCO comprehensive review - consultation round 3

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) continues its comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) with a third round of public consultation. This is an opportunity for you to make a significant impact by providing feedback on selected occupations, helping shape the quality of Australia’s future occupation and labour market information.

ANZSCO describes all occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. Your feedback will help inform and reshape educational pathways, skilled migration programs and strategies that support our workforce to remain adaptable and equipped with the right skills.

ANZSCO are particularly interested in understanding what occupations have evolved, been replaced, or changed? Have skill requirements shifted over time? Are there any emerging fields or unique jobs that you believe will shape the future?

This round of consultation will close 5 December 2023.

Telstra announces new support initiatives ahead of disaster season

Image source: More data, better payphones, less stress: how we’re supporting you this disaster season (telstra.com.au)

From today, you may see Telstra’s Disaster Response campaign in-market which will include a range of new initiatives to support Australians ahead of what is predicted to be a challenging season.  
 
Initiatives include:  

• Extra data automatically granted for postpaid mobile customers in a disaster affected area.  

• The upgrade of 1000 payphones in disaster-prone areas, with free Wi-Fi, USB charging and backup power. 

• Reaffirming our commitment to emergency roaming, and our intent to conduct a simulation within our own network as a first step to demonstrate it’s possible. 

• Launch of the Telstra Response Team – a new way to identify our teams on the ground or at the end of our dedicated disaster assistance line. 

• Trialling portable satellite technology that can help local communities connect when mobile and fixed connections are down in a disaster area.  

• This is in addition to the temporary infrastructure, generators and disaster recovery experts we deploy to help keep our customers and the community connected to Australia’s largest mobile network.  

 
More information about these initiatives and how communities can prepare themselves for disasters can be found on Telstra Exchange

Federal Government's first NBN Fixed Wireless upgrades now complete

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | 01 November 2023

The Federal Government is delivering on its plan for a better National Broadband Network (NBN), with the completion of the first NBN Fixed Wireless upgrades made possible through its $480 million investment in the network.
 
Following local upgrades, around 16,000 homes and businesses on the NSW South Coast and the Queensland Sunshine Coast are the first to benefit from access to faster speeds, including typical wholesale busy-hour speeds of at least 50 Megabits per second (Mbps).
 
Across the two regions, 3,200 premises originally receiving NBN satellite services are now eligible for NBN Fixed Wireless. This is in addition to more than 1,000 premises relocated from the satellite footprint to the fixed wireless footprint in March 2023 under the investment.
 
The Government’s investment, combined with funding from NBN, will see more than 2,300 fixed wireless sites upgraded across the country, along with greater data limits on Sky Muster satellite services, including uncapped date usage plans – helping to deliver a more connected Australia.
 
Following the program’s commencement in July 2022, the upgrades to the NBN fixed wireless network will have increased total network capacity by 100 per cent by the end of November this year, and current capacity is expected to double again by the time upgrades are complete in December 2024.
 
These are the first of many areas across Australia to receive upgrades under the program. By the end of 2024, one million premises in regional and remote Australia and in peri-urban areas will benefit from improvements to fixed wireless services or greater data limits on Sky Muster services.
 
As well as delivering better busy hour speeds and allowing more homes and business to access the NBN fixed wireless network, the upgrade program includes significant improvements to the wholesale speed plans.
 
In the coming weeks, NBN Co will start to consult with industry on proposed enhancements to these speeds. This includes two new higher-speed plans that would deliver speeds close to double those originally planned.

For more information on NBN Fixed Wireless, visit: www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fixed-wireless.

Future Drought Fund public consultation sessions coming to your region

On 26 October 2023, the Australian Government announced $17.7 million from the Future Drought Fund (FDF) will be used to progress essential activities in line with key recommendations from the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry into the effectiveness of the FDF. A full response to the Inquiry Report will be informed by public consultation.

On 20 October 2023, government commenced public consultation to help inform the next phase of Future Drought Fund investments. To support consultation, an updated Draft Investment Strategy has been released which sets out Government’s interim response to the Productivity Commission’s recommendations and proposed options for implementation.Stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback on these options.

Stakeholders are invited to register their interest to attend a public meeting in the following locations via haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/future-drought-fund

Future Drought Fund public consultation is coming to a location near you

Launceston, Tasmania - Thursday 2 November 9:00am (local time)

• Hobart, Tasmania - Thursday 2 November 3:30pm (local time)

• Melbourne, Victoria - Friday 3 November 10:00am (local time)

• Townsville, Queensland – Tuesday 7 November 10am (local time)

• Townsville, Queensland – Tuesday 7 November 2:00pm (local time)

• Roseworthy, South Australia – Tuesday 7 November 9:00am (local time)

• Roseworthy, South Australia – Tuesday 7 November 1:00pm (local time)

• Loxton, South Australia – Wednesday 8 November 9:00am (local time)

• Canberra, ACT – Wednesday 8 November 3:00pm (local time)

• Toowoomba, Queensland – Friday 17 November 9:00am (local time)

• Toowoomba, Queensland – Friday 17 November 1:00pm (local time)

• Darwin, Northern Territory – Friday 24 November 9:00am (local time)

• Darwin, Northern Territory – Friday 24 November 1:30pm (local time)

• Wagga Wagga, New South Wales – Thursday 30 November 9:00am (local time)

Registrations and venue details coming soon for these locations:

• Armidale, New South Wales – Monday 13 November 11:00am (local time)

• Perth, Western Australia – Tuesday 21 November 3:00pm (local time)

• Geraldton, Western Australia – Wednesday 22 November 10:30am (local time)

• Traralgon, Victoria – Thursday 23 November 9:00am (local time)

• Dubbo, New South Wales – Wednesday 29 November 10:30am (local time)

• Shepparton, Victoria Friday 1 December 9:00am (local time)

If you’re unable to attend a session, you can:

• Learn more draft Funding Plan and consultation draft Investment Strategy

• Submit  feedback

• Contact: droughtreslilience@dff.gov.au

Consultation will conclude on Wednesday, 6 December 2023, at 5pm AEDT.

Next steps to beat plastic pollution in NSW

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage

MEDIA RELEASE | 29 October 2023

The NSW Government is ramping up efforts to tackle plastic pollution by inviting the public to have its say on helping to prevent 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced each year from causing harm to the environment and human health.

Industry, businesses and the community are encouraged to share their feedback on the ‘NSW Plastics: Next Steps’ discussion paper as we move to reduce plastic litter by 30% by 2025, curb the impact of microplastics and align with other states and territories. 

Plastics are an important part of many products we rely on, but not all plastics are essential. Often, they are produced in unsustainable ways to be used only once and then discarded.

Only 12% of plastic waste is recycled and once thrown away, these products don’t disappear. Instead, they pollute the environment, harm wildlife, pose a risk to human health and contribute to climate change.

‘NSW Plastics: Next Steps’ identifies and addresses items and materials that:

• are frequently littered or release microplastics into the environmentNSW

• contain harmful chemical additives

• are regulated or proposed to be in other states and territories.

Items containing plastic such as lollipop sticks, cigarette butts, bread tags and heavyweight plastic shopping bags are some of the problematic products that could be redesigned or phased out.

Consultation is open for 14 weeks from 29 October 2023 to 4 February 2024.

To participate in the future of plastics, visit NSW Environment Protection Authoritylaunch

All feedback will inform further actions to tackle problematic and unnecessary plastics.

Federal Government launches consultation to modernise the Universal Service Obligation

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | 30 October 2023

The Federal Government has opened a broad consultation with industry and the community on the delivery of a modern and more fit-for-purpose Universal Service Obligation (USO).
 
The USO is a longstanding telecommunications safeguard that ensures all Australians can access fixed phone services and payphones, regardless of where they live. The USO is currently delivered by Telstra, and relies on ageing copper wire that is increasingly expensive to maintain.
 
New and emerging technologies present new opportunities to deliver voice services in Australia.
 
By the end of next year, more than 97 per cent of Australian premises will be able to access to high-speed, fixed line or fixed-wireless broadband over the NBN network that can support quality voice services. Commercial mobile networks now reach up to 99.6% of the population.
 
The continued deployment of satellites and other technologies also shows promise for providing people in the most remote areas of Australia greater options for accessing voice services.
 
The consultation process will explore options to deliver better communications outcomes – particularly for rural and regional, and First Nations communities who currently rely on fixed phone services to stay connected.
 
The Government has yet to make a decision on how best to modernise the USO, and feedback from communities, industry and interested parties will help inform next steps.
 
A discussion paper has been developed to inform the consultation process.
 
Alongside this initial consultation, the Government will commence work to establish a clear, independent and transparent body of evidence to help inform whether emerging technologies are capable of delivering suitable levels of service for the USO, with trials expected to commence in 2024.
 
Further consultation will also start next year to seek views on sustainable, long-term funding of services in rural and remote areas, incorporating a review of the Regional Broadband Scheme legislated to commence by mid-2024.
 
Submissions close 1 March 2024. To make a submission, or to view the discussion paper, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say

$30 million On Farm Connectivity Program now open for applications

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Commuications and Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

MEDIA RELEASE | 27 October 2023

Applications are now open for Round 1 of the Albanese Government’s new On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP) to increase the uptake of agtech to boost productivity, growth and sustainability of Australia’s primary producers.
 
The $30 million OFCP – funded through the October 2022-23 Federal Budget – will enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to extend connectivity further onto their properties and take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.
 
The program will provide 50 per cent rebates for the cost of smart farming technology that can help to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use, streamline farm logistics and boost customer connections throughout the world.
 
Following an expression of interest process earlier this year, 79 equipment suppliers have signed on to the program and will be able to apply for rebates of between $3,000 and $30,000 for eligible equipment purchased by primary producers.
 
Rebates will be available for a wide range of technology including external antennas, repeaters, boosters, sensors, automated tank systems and pump controllers, animal movement tags and relevant installation and training costs.
 
Rebates to fund connected machinery upgrades will provide a significant boost to these producers and will help drive growth in the sector.

The OFCP is part of the Albanese Government’s $656 million Better Connectivity Plan which is improving mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in communities across the country.

For more information on the OFCP, visit: www.infrastructure.gov.au/ofcp

New password technology making online transactions more secure

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

MEDIA RELEASE | 26 October 2023

The NSW Government is taking even more steps to help residents stay protected against cyber breaches with a new feature that informs people if their login credentials may have been compromised. 

With new enhancements to credential technology, holders of a MyServiceNSW account will be automatically notified if their email address and password are found in a third-party breach. They will then be encouraged to update their password and enable multifactor authentication.

Service NSW is working closely with trusted global technology and security vendors to identify if a customer’s account login information may have previously been disclosed in a third-party data breach or leak.

Customer information remains secure and protected during the scan and customers do not need to sign-up or opt-in to the service. 

This is one of several initiatives the NSW Government has undertaken to help protect NSW residents online and build cyber security awareness.

This complements the new Password Strength Tester, launched earlier this month, which helps people create strong passwords and check whether their password has previously been disclosed in a data breach or leak. The Password Strength Tester can also test how long it would take a hacker to crack the password and provides a rating based on the strength of the password.

There are more than 2.7 million logins to MyServiceNSW accounts every month to complete thousands of NSW Government transactions including driver licence renewals and vehicle registrations, as well as access disaster recovery or cost of living support. Customers must also have an active MyServiceNSW account to use the Service NSW app and access popular voucher programs.

Security breaches and cybercrimes can cost Australians both financially and in time taken to recover their identity. If anyone believes their identity may have been stolen, Service NSW and ID Support NSW can help people restore their documents and improve security of their personal information.

$500,000 investment boosts engineering training at TAFE NSW Griffith

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

MEDIA RELEASE | 26 October 2023

The Riverina’s welding and metal fabrication sector has received a boost with the completion of the $500,000 upgrades to training facilities at TAFE NSW Griffith.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the investment comes amid strong demand for qualified metal fabricators and welders in the region, with several major infrastructure projects – including the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment.

“Skilled engineers play a critical role in building the future of communities like Griffith, and it’s great to see TAFE NSW creating a pipeline of homegrown welders and metal fabricators,” Mr Whan said.

“The investment in these engineering facilities, which includes new welders and a hydraulic press, will ensure graduates continue to have the job-ready skills and experience to support local industry, the economy, and the community.

“Additionally, communities like Griffith will be the beneficiaries of the recently signed landmark National Skills Agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW Government.

“The five-year agreement places TAFE NSW at the heart of the vocational education and training sector, providing up to $3.81 billion in funding for NSW to help expand access to skills training in communities across New South Wales, including the Riverina.

TAFE NSW Griffith Head Teacher of Metal Fabrication and Welding Franc Prestia said Griffith’s manufacturing sector supported around 3000 jobs, while TAFE NSW engineering graduates were also highly sought after in the local agriculture and food processing industries.

“We are in constant contact with local industry to ensure we meet their training needs,” Mr Prestia said.

“TAFE NSW Griffith has seen solid growth in engineering apprentice numbers in recent years, and the upgrade to our workshop will ensure we continue delivering the job-ready skills employers expect and deserve.”

Funding for low-cost innovative safety solutions for regional Australia's level crossings

Media Release from the Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Development

MEDIA RELEASE | 25 October 2023

Six projects will share in $2.8 million under Round 1 of the Research and Innovation Grants component of the Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program (RALCSP).

Currently most level crossings in regional Australia are passively controlled with either Give Way or Stop signs, particularly where there is no reliable electricity source.

To address this, I’m pleased to announce the successful projects will trial a range of technologies including rumble strips and flashing posts, solar powered wireless technology and data monitoring.

One of the projects will also deliver research into improving how reflective, bright and colourful signage is at level crossings as well as how to bolster the visibility of trains.

The results of the trials will be shared with the National Level Crossing Safety Committee to inform ongoing activities under the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy.

The Research and Innovation Grants will deliver a total of $4.7 million over two rounds to support research and trials of low-cost, innovative level crossing safety technology and improvements.

It is a component of the $180.1 million RALCSP, which aims to improve level crossing safety in regional areas. To do this, the RALCSP is also providing funding to deliver infrastructure upgrades such as rumble strips or boom gates, improve data, and promote safe behaviours around level crossings.

I look forward to seeing these innovative grant projects get underway to deliver much-needed trials and research to advance level crossing safety in regional Australia.

ENGIE’s Community Information Hub Opens

ENGIE has opened a new community information centre for The Plains Renewable Energy Park project, located at 165 Lachlan Street, Hay.

ENGIE is excited to launch its new Community Hub in Hay - a central space for people meet with the team and learn more about the project with displays, factsheets, photo-montages, and a new interactive map. There’s also an educational hub for kids and local school groups to learn more about renewable energy.

A member of the team will be at the Community Hub from 9am – 2.30pm on:

Thursday, 26 October

Friday, 17 November

Tuesday, 28 November

Tuesday, 19 December

If you can’t make it or would prefer to meet outside these times, please reach out to the team on:

phone: 1800 845 067  email: theplainsenergypark.au@engie.com

NSW Regional Development Advisory Council established

Media Release from the Minister for Regional NSW and the Minister for Western NSW

MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2023

Under the new regulation up to seven interim members will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months so that work can begin as soon as possible to provide the Trust’s independent evaluation process for funding projects.

Members will be recommended to the Minister based on relevant skills and experience in a range of areas such as: regional and rural economics, regional service delivery, climate adaptation and resilience, finance and public administration, and natural resource management.

The Council will always include at least one Aboriginal representative with knowledge and experience in economic development for Aboriginal communities.

Minister Moriarty has also written to her federal counterpart, Minister McBain seeking a nominee from the Commonwealth to foster a coordinated approach to regional investment between New South Wales and the Commonwealth.

The Regional Development Advisory Council will provide a fresh approach for regional grants decision making by providing independent advice to the Minister for Regional NSW to ensure valid projects and rural communities are at the centre of government decision making.

Recommendations to support greater digital inclusion for First Nations Australians

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications, the Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Ms Dot West OAM, Chair of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group

MEDIA RELEASE | 23 October 2023

The Albanese Government has today released the initial report of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) that outlines positive steps towards narrowing the digital divide for First Nations Australians.
 
The report recommends practical measures to support greater digital inclusion in line with Target 17 in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It aims to ensure First Nations people have access to information and services that enable participation in decision-making on matters that affect their own lives.
 
Digital inclusion is a deeply complex issue, with access, affordability and digital ability all playing a role in the extent to which First Nations people and communities are digitally included.
 
Digital inclusion enables a range of benefits, including supporting economic participation, access to government services, social connectedness, and enjoyment of entertainment and leisure activities.
 
Recognising this, the report provides a basis for the Australian Government’s continued investment and collaboration with First Nations people around three key issues:

• the delivery of targeted measures to improve access to connectivity, making sure it is affordable and fit for purpose, and that First Nations people are aware of their connectivity options and have the digital skills they need to be safe online;

• improving the national collection and use of data so that we can better assess the impact of measures delivered in community, as well as broader progress towards Target 17; and

• ensuring genuine engagement and collaboration with First Nations people and communities, and supporting their access to government programs and opportunities.

The recommendations in the report were informed by extensive engagement with stakeholders and First Nations communities, as well as the goals and priorities set out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan 2023-2026, released earlier this year.
 
The report will be considered by the Government as it continues to work in partnership with First Nations people to remove the barriers to full participation in our digital society.
 
To read the full report, visit www.digitalinclusion.gov.au/reports

For more information on the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, visit https://www.digitalinclusion.gov.au/.

Government to scope emergency mobile roaming capability during natural disasters

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Emergency Management

MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2023

The Albanese Government will work with industry to scope an emergency mobile roaming capability to keep Australians connected during natural disasters, following a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released today.
 The ACCC’s Regional Mobile Infrastructure Inquiry final report outlines key challenges when it comes to providing reliable, accessible and resilience communications in regional Australia.
 
Importantly, the report examined the feasibility of temporary roaming services to enable Australians to connect to any available mobile network during natural disasters and other emergencies.
 
The ACCC found that temporary emergency roaming was technically feasible, but further work was needed to design and develop the capability. Ensuring coordination between government and mobile network operators would also help mitigate risks such as network congestion.
 
Ministers have tasked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with progressing this next step in collaboration with mobile carriers and to report back to Government by March next year.
 
The report makes the case for a review of existing regulation that governs access to mobile towers and associated infrastructure in regional areas to deliver better outcomes for consumers.
 
It highlights that encouraging carriers to deploy mobile infrastructure in areas without a commercial incentive through current grant programs is a significant challenge, and industry collaboration through infrastructure sharing may be the key to coverage improvements in these areas.
 
It found that infrastructure sharing can reduce costs to deploy new mobile sites and that the public benefits flowing from these grant programs would outweigh possible competition concerns. 
 
The report will help inform the Government as it considers next steps to address these challenges, building on the work already underway as part of its $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
 
The Government also recently launched a new Public Safety Mobile Broadband Taskforce to help deliver fast, secure voice, video and data communications specifically for emergency services.
 
The Regional Mobile Infrastructure Inquiry final report can be accessed at www.accc.gov.au/inquiries-and-consultations/regional-mobile-infrastructure-inquiry-2022-23
 

Simple steps for small businesses to stay cyber secure

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, and the NSW Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2023

The NSW Government is marking Cyber Security Awareness Month and Small Business Month this October with a new resource for small businesses to help them prevent identity theft and data breaches.

There is a growing need for businesses to better understand their risks online and to be proactive against scams, email attacks, and malicious software.

ID Support NSW has developed a webpage containing information and tips on how to stay cyber secure, as well as free interactive learning modules and printable checklists to help businesses regardless of their size or budget.

ID Support NSW also runs a free fortnightly webinar where business owners can learn directly from experts on how to keep customers’ personal information safe.

Digital technology gives small businesses a unique opportunity to expand their reach, communicate with customers, track trends and allocate resources. However, if not managed appropriately, it can also open the door to cyber criminals and allow them to access private and personal information.

According to an Australian Cyber Security Centre survey released in 2020, 62 per cent of small businesses across Australia have experienced a cyber security incident.

Almost half of those surveyed also rated their cyber security understanding as ‘average’ or ‘below average’ and had poor cyber security practices.

Cyber security incidents are often costly to business owners and challenging to recover from. In the national Annual Cyber Threat Report, it was found that more than $98 million was lost because of business email compromise in 2021/2022 and customers took 34 hours on average to recover their identity. 

For more information on how small businesses can stay cyber secure visit small business.

Connecting over 50s to the digital world

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications, The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services and the Hon Stephen Jones MP, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Social Services

MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2023

The Federal Government is committed to ensuring older Australians are connected to and safe in the modern digital world and will today announce $42 million to extend the successful Be Connected program.

Be Connected supports Australians over the age of 50 to boost their online skills. With access to free digital literacy training and devices, the program also ensures older Australians can safely use technology and online platforms.

The funding extension – announced during Get Online Week – will guarantee more older Australians will benefit, and ultimately be more informed and included digital citizens. It’s expected to extend direct support to an additional 300,000 older Australians through 3800 community organisations.

Through Be Connected, Australians aged over the age of 50 are supported to learn the basics of technology. This includes support to access essential services that have transitioned to the digital space, such as online banking, shopping, telehealth appointments, and government services.

The program also includes an intergenerational initiative – Young Mentors – enabling secondary school students to take on the role of digital mentors, allowing them to develop their teaching, communication, and problem solving skills while making a valuable contribution to the digital inclusion of older people.

The Be Connected Program has been built on the earlier success of the Broadband for Seniors Program which ran from 2008 with the aim of supporting seniors to gain digital confidence. In September 2017, the Broadband for Seniors Program was replaced by the Be Connected Program. Since then, the Be Connected program has directly supported over 470,000 people via a Be Connected Network Partner.

The program was due to end in July 2024 but the Government’s investment will see it extended through to 2028.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth emphasised the necessity of targeted digital literacy programs to tailor support to older Australians who may need it, as Australia becomes increasingly reliant on technology.

“Many aspects of daily life have shifted to the digital world; banking, bill paying, telehealth appointments, job hunting and accessing government services for example. Technology changes so rapidly, it is vital that no-one is excluded,” Minister Rishworth said.

“Increasing digital literacy can also help people feel more connected. Social media can help Australians to stay in touch with friends and loved ones who may live far away, reducing loneliness and isolation.”

Support will be made available across the country as the Government, through a Network Partner, continues to work with local libraries, community groups, retirement villages and aged care facilities.

“Lack of access to training has been a barrier to many older Australians becoming digitally literate. They also suffer the biggest financial losses due to scams. This expansion of support will help get more people online, be safe online and help bridge the digital divide,” Minister Rishworth said.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said said extending the BeConnected program was critical to narrow the digital divide.

“Improving digital literacy for all Australians is key to making online spaces safer,” Minister Rowland said.

“That’s why the Albanese Government is providing ongoing funding to this important initiative, including to eSafety as a major delivery partner for the BeConnected Program.

“The Young Mentors in particular is helping connect Australians of different ages to build their digital skills and confidence, and encourage genuine connections across generations”.

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones emphasised the importance programs like BeConnected to help Australians protect themselves against scams.

“In 2022 the ACCC reported Australians aged over 45 lost more than $300 million to scammers. These figures are staggering,” Mr Jones said.

“Australians who are digitally literate, alert and educated to the risk of scams will be make them less attractive targets to scammers.”

“Through important initiatives like BeConnected and the National Anti-Scams Centre, our Government is helping Australians stay safe online.”

More information about the Be Connected program is available on the Department of Social Services website.

To boost your digital literacy skills and find a network partner near you, visit the Be Connected website.

More information about Get Online Week, organised by the Good Things Foundation to close the digital divide, is available on the Get Online Week website.