Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor is calling on Telstra to meet face to face with Wollondilly residents to hear issues about mobile phone and internet access.
“Regarding mobile phone coverage, the next step will be sitting down the telcos with local residents so they can hear individual complaints and try to resolve them, one by one,” Mr Taylor said.

“On the 26th of September, just two weeks ago, I met with the Telstra regional and local representatives to discuss issues in the Wollondilly area, and specifically asked them to go to the Mount Hunter and Teresa Park areas to look at the problems. I understand they did.

“I have called on Telstra to meet with residents in areas including Orangeville, Mount Hunter, Theresa Park and Werombi and those dates are being scheduled. If we are talking campaigns, I have been on a lengthy campaign myself to get this sorted. We are prioritising these problems, because we know how frustrated residents are.”

Mr Taylor emphasised the importance of distinguishing between internet access and mobile phone access. “In many people’s minds, they are the same or similar problems. To resolve them, requires quite separate solutions.”

Responding to an article in the Macarthur Chronicle newspaper, Mr Taylor said it was simply untrue that the shire would be missing out on the National Broadband Network (NBN).

“I also take issue with the ridiculous comparison between Bourke Shire and Wollondilly Shire. The facts of the matter are that the last Labor Government did not buy the spectrum to rollout the NBN to areas on the fringes of capital cities, like the Wollondilly Shire. This government is working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to acquire that spectrum to solve the problem. This was laid out clearly in the NBN Strategic Review and I have made personal representations to the Minister Malcolm Turnbull on behalf of the Wollondilly Shire,” he said.

Mr Taylor said he had a strong, working relationship with Wollondilly Shire Council and would be working collaboratively with councillors on improving telecommunications across the shire.