Senator Malcolm Roberts has been working hard to ensure the eventual shut down of Australia’s 3G mobile network does not put the lives and safety of regional Australians at risk. 

While he was successful in his push for a delay, Senator Roberts said the two months of grace wasn’t nearly enough to ensure the safety of regional Australians that continue to rely on the 3G network. 

“Labor communications minister Michelle Rowland has let the telcos put Australians in danger by failing to put conditions on the 3G shutdown,” he said. 

“A two month delay is nowhere near enough time to fix the million devices the shutdown is still estimated to seriously affect. The minister must intervene to place conditions on the shutdown.” 

Senator Roberts said Australians – especially those in regional areas – must be guaranteed they will not lose coverage. 

“Everyone’s pacemakers and medical alarms must be updated,” he said. “All 4G phones must be able to call triple-0. Every industry must be made aware of the critical equipment that will stop working once the shutdown takes effect.” 

Senator Roberts said that despite a Senate inquiry into the issue recommending that Minister Rowland secure these conditions, she’d let them off the hook. 

“There will be no consequences if Telstra and Optus flick the switch and leave hundreds of thousands of Australians in danger,” he said. 

“I’m asking the Minister to put Australians before telco profits and intervene to provide necessary service guarantees before the shutdown. She continues to ignore serious incompatibility issues and the lack of standardisation between telcos seeking to lock customers into their networks and exploit them.”