Sophie joins the fight with Walwa residents

21-January-2009

Federal Liberal Member for Indi, Mrs Sophie Mirabella MP has joined with local residents in Walwa in their fight for better television reception.

Mrs Mirabella - who has been contacted by concerned local Walwa residents over sub-standard television service in the area - is taking the fight to Labor Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Hon. Stephen Conroy.

“There is an obvious issue whereby television stations do have digital facilities which enhances television reception, however digital facilities are not scheduled to be switched on by the Government in this area until 2011,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I have always been of the opinion that communities and residents in rural, regional and remote Australia deserve the same services as those living in the city.”

“When concerned local residents in Walwa come to me about an issue such as this, I am going to lobby hard to ensure their voices are heard and that the problem is addressed by the Government,” Mrs Mirabella said.

The timetable for switchover to digital commences in the region in the first half of 2010 and continues through each region to conclude by 31 December 2013.

The Upper Murray switchover area is within the Regional Victoria TV1 licence area and this area is scheduled to switchover from analogue to digital transmission in the first half of 2011 which isn’t good enough according to Mrs Mirabella.

“I will be suggesting very strongly that the Minister and the Rudd Government seriously look at the proposed scheduled “switch-on” time frame, and that the Upper Murray be changed to digital earlier than scheduled,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The issue that the Rudd Government has so far failed to look at is that television stations will not switch on digital service earlier than 2011 because they would be charged two licences.”

“I have written to Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Hon Stephen Conroy imploring him to assist our local residents and look into an earlier-than-scheduled switch on of digital services. I will be closely monitoring the Government’s response and continuing to support local residents in Walwa,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.