With landline phones almost obsolete, Independent MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie is calling on the federal government to extend the Universal Service Obligation (USO) to mobile phones.

She says nearly 90 per cent of Australians have a smart phone and 60 per cent of Australians use their smart phone for all voice calls at home. Just 1.6 per cent of Australian solely use a landline for telecommunications.

Despite the increasing number of mobile only households, mobile phone networks in the regions remain patchy, unreliable and non-existent in many areas.

The USO is a long-standing consumer protection that supports access to phone services and payphones.

Telstra is responsible for delivering the USO, and must provide standard telephone services on request to premises in Australia within reasonable timeframes, and make payphones reasonably available nationally. 

Ms Sharkie says mobile phone networks in the regions are critical for safety but unlike landlines, are not subject to a USO..  

‘Regional Australia does not have the same access to reliable mobile telecommunications that is ubiquitous in the cities. As a developed nation this is unacceptable.

'The Universal Service Obligation was implemented to ensure all Australians had access to voice communications via fixed phone services and payphones, regardless of where they lived or worked.  

“The USO has not kept up with technological changes in telecommunications and the uptake of technology by consumers, and consequently needs an urgent update.

'The Government's consultation on modernising the Universal Service Obligation was announced in October 2023. It's now 2025 and we still don't have any commitments to provide better services in the regions.'

More information on modernising the USO can be found online.