Senator the Hon Helen Coonan

Minister for Communications,

Information Technology

and the Arts

Keynote address to the DCITA Indigenous Telecommunications Forum

Alice Springs

Tuesday, 17 May 2005

Introduction

Good morning. It is a pleasure to open today’s Indigenous Telecommunications Forum in Alice Springs.

I was in Alice Springs just last month for a separate telecommunications forum. I am sorry that I can’t attend today’s conference in person.

But I am pleased that I can still join you through the use of the latest communications technology.

And it’s the use and availability of new telecommunications technologies that will be the topic of this forum and indeed my speech.

But first, I wish to acknowledge the Lhere Artepe people – the traditional owners of the lands in and around Alice Springs.

And I also wish to thank all of the Forum delegates for your interest and attendance.

I know that some of you have travelled long distances to represent the views of your communities or organisations and I welcome you all today.

Alice Springs

It’s fitting that this forum be held in Alice Springs — the physical centre and heart of the country. The region’s history is prominent in the history of Aboriginal people.

Alice Springs lies amid a number of intersecting dreaming trails such as ‘the caterpillar’, ‘the fish’ and ‘the honey ant’. And these trails give the indigenous communities of the region their cultural identities and links to their ancestors.

Alice Springs is also a region associated with very old trade routes that saw goods and artefacts exchanged over vast distances — from the desert to the coast.

In modern times new communications links have been added to these ancient networks — beginning with the overland telegraph, then the telephone and now a number of exciting new technologies such as the Internet.

In today’s era of microwave and satellite links, the dreaming trails co-exist alongside networks that support the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air and large and small indigenous broadcasters in the region.

The challenge for you, as delegates, is to find the path forward for services that preserve the community history and integrity of indigenous cultures while at the same time ensuring the benefits of modern technology for all.

Your contribution over the next two days will help shape the way we deliver future telecommunications services to remote communities.

Listening to regional and remote Australia

Over the past eight months, I have conducted a series of visits throughout regional, rural and remote Australia – to more than 40 locations in fact – to listen to the views of local residents about their telecommunications services.

Visiting these places gives you a real appreciation of just how important communications is for remote communities.

For example, in Queensland I visited a remote cattle station 70 km outside of Longreach run by a couple whose children rely on two-way satellite Internet for their schooling.

These recent advances have replaced the old High-Frequency Radio system that the ‘School of the Air’ used to operate and means that these remote students are now at the forefront of modern teaching practices.

The issues in indigenous communities

When I visited Alice Springs last month, I heard first-hand accounts of the state of telecommunications services provided for remote indigenous communities in the region.

The issues that created most concern were access to payphones and broadband services.

Studies suggest that as few as five per cent of people in remote indigenous communities have access to a phone at home, compared with 99 per cent of Australians as a whole.

Those of you who work in government agencies or in the telecommunications industry should be aware of the scale of the problem and the factors behind it.

Six Australian Government reports since 1992 have identified the reasons why remote indigenous communities are the most disadvantaged in terms of their access to telecommunications services.

The challenges include language, cultural and financial issues, the pricing of services, consumer awareness, community engagement and suitability of product offerings.

There is also the high cost to install the infrastructure.

TAPRIC

The cornerstone of the Government’s efforts to meet these challenges is the $8.3 million Telecommunications Action Plan for Remote Indigenous Communities — or TAPRIC.

TAPRIC initiatives are linked to a commitment to provide culturally appropriate information and training.

They are designed to encourage the development of skills within communities to maximise their access to and use of existing and future technologies.

For example, Under TAPRIC’s Internet Access Program, 135 remote communities have been assisted to set-up small public access Internet centres.

Computer packages — including a computer, a printer, a webcam and associated equipment have been provided to these communities.

A further 40 communities are expected to receive equipment and funding under the next phase of the program.

Another TAPRIC initiative is the Indigenous Communities Online Program, whereby remote indigenous communities will have improved access to online information and services that are tailored more specifically to their needs.

In Alice Springs last month, I announced 13 new projects under this program, which will generate online content that ranges from software development to improved website performance.

People will have access to government services, cultural, economic and business opportunities, health and educational programs, information on essential medical services and Internet banking.

Some of the new projects include:

• an online news and business directory service in the Torres Strait;
• websites to sell indigenous art works in Port Lincoln;
• And the development — by the Gap Youth Centre in Alice Springs — of an easy-to-use website maker that will allow communities across Australia to develop their own websites simply and cheaply.

Announcement of the Community Phones Program

But today I am very pleased to announce a new element of TAPRIC – the $3 million Community Phones Program.

The Community Phones Program will commence immediately, with trials of new technologies and services in targeted remote communities that have few or no public phone facilities.

A Community Phone is a shared phone that is an alternative to the public payphone.

The advantage it has over normal payphones is that the community phone number can be listed in directories and it can receive all incoming calls, except reverse charge calls.

Under the program, the Government is supporting improved access to new public telephone services by subsidising the connection, capital and associated costs of access.

Up to 200 new services are planned — including a number that will be installed in a newly-designed, robust and weather-resistant steel casing that is placed over a standard telephone.

I understand that a model of the casing for the robust community phone is on display at the Forum.

Another initiative under the Community Phones Program is the use of prepaid products for call payments and home phone access.

Telstra has developed a new prepaid phone card called the ‘Country Calling Card’, and a new service for home connections called the ‘Country Calling Line’.

These new services are designed specifically to help people in remote indigenous communities to get connected and to stay connected while managing costs.

A further initiative under the Community Phones Program – perhaps the most important – is the engagement of ‘Regional Agents’ who will take on the critical task of informing communities about the new services and to assist in the process of choosing and installing them.

The ‘Regional Agents’ are indigenous organisations experienced in liaison between remote communities, government agencies and service suppliers.

These agents are now operating in the Broome and Kununurra regions of Western Australia and in the Alice Springs, Apatula and Tennant Creek regions and the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.

My Department will soon assess the benefits of ‘Regional Agents’ to determine if other regions would benefit from such support.

Indigenous communities taking up broadband

I know that broadband is fast becoming the most sought after technology in communications.

In the old days, everyone wanted a standard telephone service, later people wanted mobile phone coverage, then they were interested in dial-up Internet and now people are after a faster Internet service – broadband.

The Government recognises this and we have placed a strong emphasis on making broadband available to regional and remote areas.

A number of remote indigenous communities are benefiting from the programs under the Government’s $192 million National Broadband Strategy.

Perhaps the most beneficial program out of this strategy for indigenous communities is the $24 million Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund — or CCIF.

The CCIF encourages health, education and other public interest sectors to work together to maximise opportunities for improved broadband access for non-metropolitan areas.

For example, broadband infrastructure is being established for 12 Indigenous communities in one of the most remote regions of Australia, the Ngaanyatjarra lands in Western Australia.

This service will be provided to the schools, police, justice and health agencies.

Meanwhile, a 10 kilometre broadband fibre optic link is being developed between Charles Darwin University’s Alice Springs campus and a series of research and educational institutions in the Desert Knowledge Precinct.

And in the remote north west of the Northern Territory, CCIF funding will support broadband links for 5,000 people from Wadeye to the Daly Rivers to give people similar improved access to essential services.

Mobile phone coverage

Finally, I am also aware that mobile phones are a particularly valuable resource in the remote areas of Australia.

For very remote communities satellite phones are usually the only viable option.

The Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme provides a subsidy of up to $1,500 towards the purchase of a mobile satellite phone for eligible people living beyond the coverage of the CDMA or GSM networks.

So for anyone who can’t get terrestrial mobile phone coverage, I encourage you to apply for the $1500 subsidy for a satellite phone.

Conclusion

I would like to conclude with a few comments on the arrangements that have been put in place following the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Commission.

A Ministerial Taskforce now exists to provide collaborative Government leadership and improved performance through coordinated efforts.

The Taskforce is chaired by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and includes me, along with eight of my fellow ministers who are committed to the efficient delivery of services to Indigenous communities.

A National Indigenous Council has been appointed to advise the Taskforce on policy matters and service delivery.

While this is a whole of Government approach, the Communications portfolio plays a critical role.

Good communications infrastructure supports economic development and better access to social services.

All of the initiatives I have mentioned are available to remote indigenous communities and I encourage these communities to make the most of them and get connected to important telecommunications technologies.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you some of the Government’s initiatives to improve indigenous telecommunications services.

I wish you a successful and informative forum and I look forward to receiving a report of its outcomes.