Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee

Malcolm Roberts

I seek leave to amend business of the Senate No. 1 in the terms circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2024:

The shutdown of the 3G mobile network and telecommunications services accessibility, with reference to:

(a) the impact on access to triple zero emergency calls;

(b) the number of devices and customers affected by the shutdown;

(c) the absence of 4G services in rural and regional areas previously covered by 3G;

(d) the impact on elderly and health-compromised Australians who use medical alert devices on the 3G network;

(e) the impact on industries that use 3G devices;

(f) the impact of a lack of telecommunications services on the economic and social circumstances of those who live in regional Australia;

(g) service provisions and coverage;

(h) efficacy and capability in disaster situations;

(i) adherence to, adequacy of, and opportunity to improveservice obligations; and

(j) any other related matters.

Anne Urquhart

by leave—At the request of Senator Sterle, I move the following amendment:

Omit "Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee", substitute "Environment and Communications References Committee".

Jonathon Duniam

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam

We need an inquiry into the 3G issue to get to the bottom of what the government knew about the 4G phones that won't connect to the 000 service when the 3G network shuts down. On 17 March, the minister said she became aware of the looming crisis regarding 4G phones only 10 days earlier. This is very hard to believe. We know that key industry associations flagged this issue with the minister's office and indeed the department last November. We need to investigate the government's actions—or, more to the point, their lack of action—on the whole 3G shutdown.

Anthony Chisholm

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm

The 3G network switchover was first announced in 2019 and will provide a more efficient use of spectrum by mobile network operators to boost capacity and data speeds. However, the government is concerned that customers in possession of particular 4G handsets may mistakenly believe their mobile device is unaffected post switchover as the handset could continue to operate normally for voice and data except when trying to call 000. The government is not satisfied that adequate efforts have been made by industry to identify and inform their impacted customers. We have therefore tasked industry to stand up a new working group to support the planned switchover from 3G to 4G in a safer way and provide fortnightly updates to government. The government takes this issue extremely seriously. We will continue to monitor the switchovers and take further action as required. We will be supporting this inquiry.

Sue Lines

The question is that the amendment, as moved by Senator Urquhart in the name of Senator Sterle, be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells being rung

Anne Urquhart

I seek leave to cancel the division.

Leave granted.

Question negatived.

Sue Lines

The question now is that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, as moved by Senator Roberts, be agreed to.