Dissenting Report
Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens
The intention of the Telecommunications (Mobile Phone
Towers) Bill 2011 is to recognise that citizens have a right to be more engaged
in the installation and expansion of telecommunication facilities in their
communities.
The evidence from concerned citizens who have been taking
local action around the location of telecommunication facilities in their
communities has demonstrated the current regulations and processes are
inadequate. While we recognise the importance of providing appropriate
coverage, security and stability of our telecommunications network, so too is
the community's ability to voice concerns about infrastructure which may impact
on their lives.
The deficiencies the Bill seeks to remedy include:
- strengthening the requirements for community consultation in
relation to the installation of telecommunications facilities, in particular by
requiring at least 30 days notice and for such notice to be given to people
within 500m of the proposed facility;
- ensuring all electromagnetic emitting facilities including low
impact facilitates are subject to local government processes as well as
community consultations;
- require the precautionary principle to be considered in decisions
about the location of such facilities;
- ensuring there is better recourse for citizens where
telecommunication companies have not met their obligations to the community;
and
- providing a mechanism for better monitoring of Australia electromagnetic
radiation standards.
Telecommunication carriers are given widespread powers to
locate their facilities. The Australian Greens share the concerns of many in
the community that the current consultation provisions are inadequate and that
communities should have a right to be more involved in the location of mobile
phone towers and engaged in the decision-making process, and that the legislation
should provide for this.
A key issue the bill is seeking to address is that once a
telecommunications tower is established there is little stopping carriers
expanding and adding more antennae without any notice or consultation with
affected residents.
The fact that ARPANSA has checked only 21 out of 18 0000
telecommunications facilities and ACMA has audited the records of only 474 out
of 18 000 for compliance with the EMR standards demonstrates the relevant
authorities are not listening to the concerns of the community.
The precautionary principle is relevant when there is a
suspicion that an action may cause harm to the health of humans or the
environment. There is no scientific consensus on the effects of long-term
accumulated exposure to electromagnetic radiation, especially for children and
adolescents, in the case of mobile phone facilities. Therefore, carriers should
take a cautious approach to the siting of facilities because there is an
absence of evidence that they do not cause harm.
We acknowledge there are some technical issues with the Bill
and we will consider amendments to ensure the Bill meets the stated objectives.
In particular, ensuring the provisions of the Bill do not apply to low-impact
facilities that do not emit electromagnetic radiation, such as cables. With
such amendments the Bill should be considered favourably by the Senate.
Senator Bob Brown
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