VICTORIA’S peak farmer group says a telecommunications “data drought” in regional areas is hurting families and holding back the state’s agriculture sector.
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The Victorian Farmers Federation will join with sixteen other groups in a coalition representing people in rural, regional and remote areas on a trip to Canberra.
VFF vice-president Brett Hosking said the delegation was not about whinging, but rather offering decision-makers suggestions about how to improve the services.
“We’ve previously raised concerns that the NBN has been slow to roll out and there’s real concern most farmers and rural families won’t get the quality reception and download speeds they need,” he said.
“The coalition wants to ensure that the telecommunications services enhance, not limit, the potential benefit that internet services can deliver to these areas.
The nation’s farming sector will be worth an estimated $63 billion in the 2016-17 year and telecommunications is vital to its growth.