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With the delivery of the Albanese Government’s first Communications Budget, Australian families, businesses and communities will be more connected than ever.
This Budget fulfills the election promises made by the party and is a key component of the strategy to create a better future for all Australians.
By late 2025, over 10 million homes and businesses will have access to speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second thanks to the Boost Fibre and Fast Track the NBN Repair Job initiative, which will give NBN Co a $2.4 billion equity injection over four years.
With this investment, full-fibre access will be extended to 1.5 million more locations, including more than 660,000 in regional Australia.
Up to 30,000 families without internet access at home will receive a free 12-month subscription to the NBN as part of a targeted affordability program, allowing their kids to obtain the education they need and deserve.
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Support for Rural, Regional, Remote and First Nations communities
The Albanese government is also dedicated to expanding mobile coverage, boosting connection, closing the digital divide and assisting communities in the event of natural calamities.
The Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia will provide rural and regional areas with more than $1.1 billion.
Additionally, the plan accounts for the $480 million that has already been delivered to enhance the NBN Fixed Wireless network which will upgrade 120,000 satellite premises.
By freeing up satellite capacity, this also provides significant advantages for NBN satellite services.
The Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP), which aids populations on the peri-urban fringe keep connected and obtain critical information during emergencies and natural catastrophes, will also get $39.1 million from the budget.
Improving Mobile Coverage Round (IMCR), a special round of the Mobile Black Spot Program that to be implemented by the Albanese Government, will target 54 sites where industry has not been able to provide the investments that Australia needs.
The First Nations Communications and Digital Inclusion legislation will spend $2.5 million over 5 years to create a First Nations digital advisory committee, which will offer meaningful partnership counsel to the Minister for Communications in the form of collaborative advise.
Protecting Aussie kids from harm
The budget further includes $6 million allotment to keep kids safe online and provide schools with free access to online learning resources.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation will offer a variety of eLearning resources, such as eSmart Digital Licences for elementary and secondary school students and an eSmart Media Literacy Lab for secondary school students aged 12 to 16, to support the growth of analytical thinking abilities and online civic engagement.
You may also want to read: 1.5M Aussie homes, businesses to benefit from NBN upgrades (commsroom.co)
Beginning on July 1, 2023, the present administration will provide 5-year funding terms for Australia’s national broadcasters.
The independence of the national broadcasters will be better protected if the ABC and SBS are given funding commitments that are longer than three years. This will also support long-term strategic planning and innovation in the production of high-quality content and services across Australia.
In addition, the government would reintroduce indexation for the ABC, giving it $83.7 million to make up for financial reductions made by the previous administration from 2019 to 22.
The budget also allocates funds to a feasibility study that will examine ways to increase the audience for outstanding Australian musicians on Double J, particularly in rural areas.
The government is also following through on its promise to assist regional news, community radio and employment.
Months ago, the $15 million Regional and Local Newspaper Publishers Program provided a lifeline to 208 newspaper publishers across the nation (RLNP).
From 2023 to 2024, an additional $4 million will be provided annually for the Community Broadcasting Program to support Australia’s community broadcasting sector. This increases the program’s yearly financing to more than $20 million.
For longer-term news media policy interventions, the government has also allocated $4 million to the creation of the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).
The Albanese Government is supporting the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to deliver two new systems that will enable it to continue to manage spectrum efficiently. This $27.7 million investment over 5 years will support the delivery of:
A new spectrum management system, to manage more than 160,000 licences held across Australia; and
An ongoing auction capability, to auction high-value spectrum licences and secure the best outcomes for the Australian economy.
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
