Phone tower fights one sided, MP claims

Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie has told federal parliament that communities should have greater rights in deciding where telcos place new phone towers.

The federal government needs to stop kowtowing to telcos and start putting communities first when it comes to complaints about mobile phone towers, a Tasmanian MP has argued in parliament.

What matters to telcos is the most convenient and cheapest site for a new tower but Andrew Wilkie has introduced legislation that would give the community greater rights in determining where new towers can be placed.

"Maybe more often telcos should be required to find a slightly less convenient, slightly more expensive site," he said telling MPs communities shouldn't have to fight so hard every time for alternative sites to be considered.