Ever the masters of political distraction, the Albanese Government have sought to distract Mallee community members reeling from a botched 3G shutdown that created more mobile black spots – and their failure to fill a single black spot over 3 years – by launching their UOMO into the political sky.

“The Albanese Labor Government has attempted to grab a desperate headline by announcing what they are calling a ‘Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation’ (UOMO) on the eve of the election,” Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said.

“The government claims this will provide mobile coverage, almost everywhere, but has failed to detail which areas will miss out, or how much their UOMO will cost.

“Low Earth Orbit Satellites and Direct to Device offers exciting new technology but they are not yet fully tested, trialled or readily available in Australia.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh said, "the Coalition has always led in the delivery of mobile connectivity to rural, regional, and remote Australia and will continue to do so.”

“This announcement seems rushed and has been pushed out by the government during Estimates and just weeks before Australians go to the polls.

Dr Webster said Mallee residents desperately need better mobile connectivity, as she has herself experiences travelling the length and breadth of the 83,412 square kilometre electorate – over one third of the landmass of Victoria.

“Labor’s new UOMO offers empty promises for customers in regional and remote areas who are desperate for better telecommunications connectivity, particularly after the shambolic mess from the closure of the 3G network.  I lobbied the Minister and telcos for extension after extension and still Labor couldn’t get it right. 

“It rings pretty hollow for Labor to claim on election eve that they care about regional connectivity when they undermined, not improved, connectivity in their calamitous three years in office.

"The government has also failed to declare how much the Mobile Obligation will cost and who will have to pay for it.

"Australians have been smashed by the Government’s cost of living crisis and will be rightly concerned about the prospect of higher mobile phone bills under the Albanese Labor Government’s last-minute plan."

“Mallee residents already have UOMO – the Unavoidability Of Missing Out – after three wasted years under Labor.  It wasn’t so under the Coalition, with mobile black spots funded. Mallee can’t wait for the election and a change of government.”

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