Nicholls independent candidate's pigeon power telecommunications push

Mr Priestly is among 11 candidates for the seat vying to replace the National Party's Damian Drum, who has held Nicholls since 2016.

Nicholls is regarded as one of the state's safest coalition seats, consistently recording a conservative vote 20-30 per cent higher than for the whole of Victoria.

Mr Priestly released about 150 carrier pigeons from the Wunghnu Reserve, carrying messages to the government seeking fair investment in telecommunications infrastructure in the area.

"Carrier pigeons have been used for over 2,000 years and it's frustrating that they are still the most reliable way to communicate in many parts of regional Victoria," Mr Priestly said.

"Just one carrier pigeon would be better than a mobile phone in places like Wunghnu.

"As the second safest conservative seat in Australia, rural areas in Nicholls such as Wunghnu have consistently been overlooked for investment."

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Mr Priestly highlighted the urgent need for an upgrade to allow residents to fully participate in society.

"In 2022, it's impossible to run a business or educate your kids without reliable telecommunications.

"Every Australian deserves fair and equitable access - not just those in marginal electorates."

Mr Priestly said Nicholls had the least number of mobile phone towers installed under the federal Blackspot program in regional Victoria contrasting with Indi, the next electorate, which has had the most mobile phone towers installed under that program.

"Quality mobile phone and internet is crucial for safety and the viability of businesses in rural communities," Mr Priestly said.

"The government and big business are pushing their services on line and if we want a reasonable standard of living in the regions, its essential, it's not optional."

He said blackspots were not always in remote locations."

"There are lots of suburbs and developments were there are low levels of coverage there are lots of areas were they are getting one bar of coverage

"To get that you have stand on the back porch, then you have to move inside and the text message you are waiting for doesn't come."

But Nationals candidate Sam Birrell said Rob Priestly and the Independents talked a 'big game' when it came to regional communications.

"The fact is they cannot, and have not, delivered a thing," Mr Birrell said.

"The Nationals have a strong track record of delivering regional communications for the communities of Nicholls.'

The Nationals had delivered six mobile base stations in Nicholls, under the Mobile Blackspot program and three new base stations were being built under the Regional Connectivity Program.

More than 70 satellite dishes would be installed to provide NBN connectivity on rural rire brigade buildings and evacuation centres across Nicholls.

The Liberal candidate, Steve Brooks, has been contacted for comment.

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