Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
More digital services for rural, regional and remote Australia
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today called for a second round of proposals to deliver innovative digital services for communities in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.
Senator Conroy has released the guidelines for round two funding under the Government’s Digital Regions Initiative which calls for full applications by 14 July 2010.
"The $60 million Digital Regions Initiative will fund projects that deliver vital high-quality digital applications for education, health and emergency services," Senator Conroy said.
"Eleven projects totalling $32.9 million were offered funding under round one of the Initiative."
Round one initiatives included:
- An ambulance mobile connect service in South Australia which will link ambulances to emergency response and medical information
- Bushfire spotting and response technologies in Victoria
- Chronic disease management systems in the Hunter New England region of NSW.
"The Government has received positive feedback on the services that round one funding will deliver and we’re now looking for more projects to support," Senator Conroy said.
"The Rudd Government is delivering high speed broadband for all Australians through the National Broadband Network.
"While the rollout is underway, this funding allows regional, rural and remote communities to benefit from innovative digital applications in the short term."
Senator Conroy said the Digital Regions Initiative was announced as part of the Government's response to the Glasson Regional Telecommunications Review.
For more information to apply for funding under the Digital Regions Initiative visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalregions
Date: 18 May 2010
Contact: Suzie Brady 0408 258 457
