Carol Bennett

So this is definitely something that should happen.

We've got to make sure

that we have got access wherever people are in Australia.

And that shouldn't just be about satellite to device because that technology is still evolving.

We could be doing this now if we had domestic mobile roaming where there had to be sharing of terrestrial infrastructure by Telstra Optus and TPG.

You know, it's probably timely that the ACCC reviewed that decision.

It's 10 years old now.

That's right.

You're exactly right because increasingly what we've seen is a reduction in the investment by the telcos in infrastructure out in regional areas of Australia.

Yeah.

So this effectively means that you've got people in the regions who just don't have access to connectivity in large swathes of the country.

And they're at real risk.

I mean, not only are they not able to work, educate their kids, access health services or government services,

but they actually are at a safety risk if they can't access triple zero or they can't contact people in an emergency situation.

So it really is the case that we have to mandate it either through coverage obligations on the telcos.

They earn this, they pay for spectrum, but in return, we should put some obligations on them back to the community to ensure public safety.

yeah there does and i think that whole issue of spectrum pricing is an interesting one because um you know it's taxpayers who have the right really to have this asset priced in a way that ensures that it meets the obligations that the community place in these telcos and you know if we're providing the spectrum and they're creating

you know, a significant or generating a significant profit as a result of having access to that very exclusive licence.

Let's be honest, it's not contestable.

It's just given to the telcos.