AgForce Central Queensland regional president Joy Deguara said access to high speed broadband in major regional centres such as these was long over due.

“The current internet connection available in most rural and regional areas is inadequate and unreliable,” she said.

“AgForce partnered with the Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) to make a stakeholder submission to the National Broadband Network’s backhaul blackspots initiative, and the Emerald to Longreach route was identified in our submission.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the broadband network, however AgForce is concerned that the rollout only includes towns with more than 1000 people.

“Where does this leave businesses and families in the hundreds of small rural towns across the state who are essential links in Queensland’s food and fibre supply chain and important local employers?

“Although 90 percent of the population will benefit from the government intention to provide superfast broadband of 100mbs, the 10 percent which are left with a second class service of 12mbs via satellite and wireless will be in remote areas and therefore particularly need adequate communication services.”

Ms Deguara said although a fibre optic cable runs past the front gate of her cattle property – just 65km from Mackay – it is not readily available, leaving satellite as the best option for internet connection.

“Although the satellite is an improvement on the previous dial-up option, it is very difficult to run a business because connection and downloading is time-consuming,” she said.

“Many primary producers have made significant investments in on-farm technology such as GPS and NLIS and they need access to sufficient connection capability to value-add to these systems.