Premier meets with Telstra CEO while governing from FNQ

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk continued governing from Far North Queensland today and met with Telstra CEO Andy Penn and Head of Rural Affairs, Tim O’Leary in Cairns today.

The Premier said the meeting, attended by Minister for Innovation, Leeanne Enoch was an ideal opportunity to speak directly to the telecommunications company.

“I took the opportunity, on behalf of Queenslanders to thank Mr Penn for all the hard work Telstra provided during the Cyclone Debbie response and recovery.”

“Telstra workers on the ground from the Whitsundays to the Queensland border worked day and night to ensure communities hardest hit by Cyclone Debbie were able to have their communications up and running as quickly as possible.”

Premier Palaszczuk also took the opportunity to discuss Telstra’s Mobile Black Spot Program and also the roll out of optic fibre cables in remote and regional Queensland.

“These areas include Doomadgee to Burketown, Aurukun and the Barcoo-Diamantina fibre optic projects.”

“My Government has committed almost $24 million to deliver 144 new and improved mobile base stations to communities across 54 different council areas.”

“I know how important good quality communication services are to people in regional Queensland and I will continue to work with Telstra to ensure that wherever people live, they have access to reliable internet and phone services,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to working with organisations such as Telstra to improve digital inclusion across Queensland.

“Just recently, I announced in Cairns that Queensland’s remote and regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will receive digital literacy training under the new Deadly Digital Communities program,” Ms Enoch said.

“The program, to be delivered through the State Library of Queensland, Telstra and local councils, will see community based training and professional development delivered to 26 regional and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland.

“This is a huge step towards closing the gap and improving the digital inclusion of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Ms Enoch said.

“It is programs like this that boost our State’s entrepreneurial culture, by giving all Queenslanders the skills needed for the jobs of the future and will help realise the often untapped potential of these unique and vibrant communities,” Ms Enoch said.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791