Goldfields-Esperance Internet users dissatisfied with services

11/8/03
A State Government report into regional and rural telecommunications has found a large proportion of people in the Goldfields-Esperance region are dissatisfied with their Internet service according to State Development Minister Clive Brown.
Mr Brown said the Gallop Government was delivering a fairer deal for all Western Australians but the Federal Government's plan to sell off the remainder of Telstra proved the Commonwealth didn't care about voters who lived in remote and regional WA.
The 'Telecommunications Needs Assessment' found 24 per cent of households and 22 per cent of businesses feel that the service is currently inadequate. Connection speeds are a major issue.
"Nearly a quarter of Goldfields-Esperance households surveyed during the recent study of communications in regional areas use the Internet for buying and selling online.
"This was the highest use of the Internet for this purpose in the State, and shows the adoption of new means of doing business by people in this region."
Internet access and speed was a particular issue for the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire, along with inadequate standard telephone services. The radio phone service (DRCS) did not meet the needs of the people residing in this large area.
Only 55 per cent of Goldfields-Esperance households assessed their standard telephone service as meeting all of their current needs - the lowest of any regional satisfaction rating. Installation costs and customer service were particular concerns.

The survey revealed 68.8 per cent of Goldfields-Esperance households and 76.8 per cent of businesses own a mobile phone. A further 5.2 per cent of households and 5.3 per cent of businesses without a mobile intend to purchase one in the next year.
"However, less than half of Goldfields-Esperance businesses and households are satisfied with mobile telephone services, with the most common cause for dissatisfaction being poor geographical coverage," Mr Brown said.
While there was significant mobile coverage between Kalgoorlie and Esperance for those using a car kit with an external antenna, coverage on the Eyre Highway was severely limited. With the increase in travellers, this was seen as a significant safety issue.
The 'Telecommunications Needs Assessment' is an assessment of access to, and satisfaction with, communications services across regional WA. It focuses on standard phones, mobile phones, Internet and high speed data (broadband), broadcasting (radio and television), and access to communications support services (training, sales, support) for regional Western Australians.
"The report will provide a foundation for the development of a State Communications Policy in the second half of this year," Mr Brown said.
"It will also be used to better inform the Commonwealth Government of the communications needs of those Western Australians living and working in regional areas, to underpin the development of national strategies and to access funding."
The Goldfields-Esperance findings were based on telephone surveys of 102 businesses and 102 households selected randomly across the region. These groups were part of a State-wide sample of 1,019 business and 1,012 households.
Additionally, the survey team visited Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Leonora, Laverton, Menzies, Norseman, Ravensthorpe and Widgiemooltha in November 2002. Representatives of a number of groups and individual community members provided valuable input for the review during these consultations.
Views were also sought from various stakeholders, major employers and community groups with interests in the Goldfields-Esperance region. Local government authorities and concerned citizens also made written submissions to the study.
A copy of the report is available at http://www.ministers.wa.gov.au/brown

Minister's Office - 9222 9699