Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) will secure new mobile coverage across regional Australia.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed an announcement that the Federal Government has committed to in­troducing a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obli­gation (UOMO).

If enshrined by legislation, the world-first proposal means telecommunications com­panies will be legally bound to guarantee basic, outdoor voice and text mobile cover­age across every corner of Australia.

NFF President David Jochinke, who had attended the announcement at the NSW Rural Fire Service HQ, said the obligation would both create and safeguard a right for every Australian to access basic calls and text services from any location.

This announcement is made possible due to Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO­Sats) and the arrival of ‘Direct to Device’ technology.

“Mobile black spots are a huge source of frustration for people in the bush. Coverage gaps can compromise safety and make it harder to run a business,” Mr Jochinke said.

“This new obligation will ensure that the safety of rural Australians, and their access to basic mobile services, cannot be put in the too-hard basket.

The obligation would secure new mobile coverage across an estimated 5 million square kilometres of land, including more than 37,000 kilometres of regional roads.

You may see signage in place when you enter your local Woolworths store Monday-Friday between the hours of 10.30am-11.30am.

Woolworths has expanded its low-sensory Quiet Hour to five days a week, an expe­rience designed to reduce anxiety and sensory stress for customers with specific needs.

During Quiet Hour, most Woolworths stores will lower lights, turn down music or radio, turn off beeps at the register and turn off oven buzzers for an hour, every Monday to Friday between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Quiet hour was developed in consultation with disability service provider Life Without Barriers and launched in 2019 one day a week to meet the need in the community for a low-sensory shopping experience.

Since then, the initiative has rolled out to over 900 stores across Australia.

Jeanette Fenske, Woolworths Director of Stores, said: “We continue to receive positive feedback from customers on the initiative, and our teams take great pride in ensuring the stores are quieter and less stressful for customers during this time.

“Quiet Hour is now an integral part of how we aim to assist independence in our stores, in addition to the opportunity pro­vided by Direct to Boot and delivery options for many customers.

Life Without Barriers Chief Executive Claire Robbs said: “The expansion of Quiet Hour at Woolworths from one to five week days is a fantastic initiative that recognis­es and is actively responding to different needs in the community.

“Life Without Barriers has been delighted with Woolworths leadership to give people more options to do their shopping in store and increase their independence in an en­vironment that is not stressful and over­whelming to them.”

Quiet Hour now runs from 10:30am – 11:30am every Monday to Friday in most stores nationally.

A higher proportion of people in regional NSW have participated in the Return and Earn Scheme (72%), significantly more than those in metropolitan NSW (65%).

The NSW Return and Earn scheme has hit a new record, celebrating a staggering 13 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the return point network since the scheme began. This means over $1.3 bil­lion in container refunds have gone back into people’s pockets, helping with the cost of living, saving for a special goal or supporting amazing causes. Over $72 mil­lion has also been raised for charities and community groups through donations and return point hosting fees.

Following a record-breaking summer, with 23 December 2024 setting a record for the biggest single day ever at 10.3 million containers, 2024 ended as our biggest year yet with 2.125 billion containers returned.

“This achievement shows just how im­portant drink container recycling is across NSW. With over 650 convenient and ac­cessible return points, it has never been easier to recycle in our state,” said James Dorney, CEO of network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway.

“Thanks to all the people of NSW, what was once seen as waste is now a valuable resource, delivering significant environ­mental, social and economic benefits. “ “Recycling isn’t just about cleaning up the environment – it’s about turning waste into valuable resources to grow our circular economy. Together, we are contributing to a more sustainable future, where the mate­rials that our bottles, cans and cartons are made of are kept in use and out of landfill,” said Ms. Smalley.

Return and Earn has raised funds for everything from weddings and holidays to free care flights for sick children and meals for people who are doing it tough. Com­munity members can donate their refund to one of over 300 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app or to the cur­rent statewide donation partner, food relief charity, Foodbank NSW & ACT.

For more information visit www.returnan­dearn.org.au.