Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to confirm that plans by the regional broadcasters to fix television reception in Apollo Bay have now been finalised. After so much frustration in Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek and Marengo, we are very close to seeing this situation fixed. Late last year, our government confirmed that the broadcasters Prime, WIN and Southern Cross would install a new microwave link as part of a solution to deliver better TV reception, along with the Australian Communications and Media Authority's proposal to change transmission frequencies to minimise interference from King Island.

I have been very concerned that we have not received final details of this agreement, but I am very pleased to announce today that the regional broadcasters, along with SBS, have confirmed they will be investing a total of $385,000 to implement this upgrade. I say thank you, and I also thank the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield, for his support. The upgrade will include new microwave links between Mount Sabine and Tanybryn and between Tanybryn and Apollo Bay; new transmitters for WIN, Prime, Southern Cross and SBS; and increased transmitter output power at Apollo Bay. The equipment has been ordered today, will take some 16 weeks to arrive from overseas and will be installed by the end of August. So certainly there will be some delay, but I am so relieved that this situation has been fixed. I will continue to stand up for regional communities, and this is a great example.