MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has highlighted the need for reliable mobile phone coverage in regional areas in demonstrating support for National Farm Safety Week.
Mr Bell spoke about the risks poor mobile phone service in rural and remote areas posed to farmers in the region before calling on the State Government to address mobile phone coverage.
The independent MP singled out the importance of the bipartisan recognition of this year’s theme of being “innovative, safe and healthy” before emphasising the need for reliable mobile connectivity in the regions.
While commending the State Government for formally acknowledging the awareness campaign, Mr Bell said it was time for the government to address the access disparity in rural areas.
“The basic fact is farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country,” he said.
“Farmers often spend their days working alone and in hard to reach, remote areas.
“The lack of consistent mobile coverage is a big issue for those working in parts of regional South Australia where emergency services can be up to half an hour away.
“I know farmers who use Twitter to communicate with each other, but who cannot connect a phone call to the bloke who works down the road because of the lack of a reliable phone service.
“Like workers across all sectors, farmers should be able to have access to a safe workplace with strategies in place to assist should emergency situations occur.”
In an earlier sitting of parliament, MacKillop MP Nick McBride sought an update from Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone on addressing mobile phone blackspots.
Mr Whetstone said the State Government would co-invest with federal colleagues and telecommunication companies to tackle mobile phone blackspots.
Ahead of the state election, the Liberal Party pledged to invest $10m to fix the worst mobile phone black spots, with then Opposition Leader Steven Marshall labelling inadequate mobile phone coverage as a “serious safety issue”.
