Dametto calls on Telstra to face frustrated Forrest Beach residents

19th April 2023

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto, is calling on Telstra to hold a meeting with Forrest Beach residents who have been dealing with long-standing connectivity issues for years.

Back in November 2021, the Hon. Bob Katter and Mr Dametto held a rally in Forrest Beach calling on Telstra to permanently resolve the connectivity issues. Following this rally, Mr Katter was able to secure $785,350 for a new Telstra macro tower for Forrest Beach which was announced in May 2022.

The Hinchinbrook MP stated that since the funding announcement Telstra has been dragging their feet with the project.

“Telstra has claimed that the Forrest Beach project is underway in its early stages however no location has been locked with a lease,” Mr Dametto said.

“It’s time for Telstra to face their frustrated customers who have been waiting patiently for improved connectivity.

“Our office is still getting pumped with complaints regarding the connectivity issues at Forrest Beach and rightly so.

“Residents are extremely frustrated that since the new Telstra macro tower was announced nearly a year ago it appears that very little progress has been made.

“Constituents are fed up with paying top dollar for a service which they are not receiving and so they should be.

“We are calling on Telstra to hold a meeting in Forrest Beach with their customers who are currently living in the dark ages and provide a detailed status report on the new Telstra macro tower.

“We appreciate there may be a fair bit going on in the background but what residents want to see is visual progress and concrete and steel coming out of the ground.”

Kennedy MP Bob Katter said the lack of clarity and updates from the major telco were unacceptable, yet unfortunately, what Australians were left to expect.

Mr Katter said his office in September 2022 was advised Telstra would carry out its contracts in the second quarter of the financial year.

Now in the final quarter, he said the latest update he received stated suitable land was yet to be identified.

“Of the many disastrous decisions made by governments, privatisation and free market policies sit right up there,” Mr Katter said.

“Here’s a classic example of it, even when we get the money and get the decision, nothing happens.

“The people of Australia have no leverage here at all. The chances of them enforcing a universal service obligation are about the same as me becoming an astronaut and going to mars.”

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