Nationals WA call for improved mobile connection, citing safety concerns ahead of bushfire season

The WA Nationals have called on the Federal Government and Telstra to do more to boost mobile coverage in the Mid West, saying they have concerns over people’s safety as the summer months approach.

Late last month, the 3G network was shut down, leaving residents in rural areas with few options.

According to the Nationals, many residents and businesses have approached Opposition Leader Shane Love with reports of unreliable service since the shutdown.

Mr Love said more needed to be done to help.

“Telstra’s decision to shut down the 3G network without providing adequate alternatives has left regional WA stranded,” he said.

“This is not just a failure of technology — it’s a failure of responsibility. Connectivity is not a luxury; it is an essential service, particularly in areas prone to bushfires or with limited access to health services.”

Geraldton Nationals candidate Kirrilee Warr, who resides in Chapman Valley, said she was aware of the mobile connection struggles within the community.

She said she had concerns ahead of bushfire season.

“We’ve already had a couple of bushfires in our own Shire of Chapman Valley, and we are heavily reliant on telecommunications to get the word out there that there’s a fire in your vicinity,” Ms Warr said.

“Thinking that we can rely on satellites is a possibility, but we know that technology is not fully developed, and not every handset that a person owns has the ability to receive those messages.”

Telstra regional general manager Boyd Brown said works had been done to ensure the network would stack up.

“In gearing up to switch off our 3G network, our team upgraded and optimised over 12,000 sites so that we could be confident our 4G network would match the coverage footprint of our 3G network,” he said.

“Since switching off our 3G network we’ve re-used spectrum at thousands of mobile sites across the nation, delivering improved capacity and performance to many regional towns and communities.”

Telstra first announced the closure of the 3G network in 2019, and said outdated devices were the most common reason for people not receiving coverage.