Media Statement - 4th July 2008
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today invited applications to supply, install and maintain community telephone services in remote Indigenous communities.
“The Rudd Government understands that telecommunications is a key enabler and has important implications for health, education, safety and business in Indigenous communities,” Senator Conroy said.
“This program will ensure that more remote Indigenous communities have access to telephones, in addition to the 125 communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia that have already received phones through this program.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has identified about 300 communities that could benefit from improved access to telecommunications services.
The community phones will operate using prepaid cards, and will be protected from the environment.
An arrangement is currently in place to install high priority community phones until this process announced today is established.
Applications will be assessed to choose a suitable provider capable of supplying community phones to remote Indigenous communities.
Applications for the provision of community phones will close at 5.00pm 14 August 2008 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
More information on the application process can be found on the Department's website at www.dbcde.gov.au/bia