It comes as a number of regional advocacy groups have joined forces to form the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition to campaign for more government investment in regional telecommunications infrastructure.

Speaking in Dubbo during last weekend’s rally against Essential Energy job cuts, Mr Donato said he agreed with the RRRCC’s campaign.

“Obviously that’s an issue that affects not only my electorate but all over regional NSW in terms of data black spots or mobile black spots and access to the NBN or limited access to high-speed internet,” he said.

“These are important issues, just driving between Orange and Molong just near Windera Estate for example you drive through a black spot and that’s only ten minutes out of Orange.

“It’s clearly frustrating for people and local residents and people that rely on mobile telecommunications for their business.”

He said access to high speed internet should be available to everyone, not just those who live along the east coast of NSW or within the Sydney metropolitan area.

“It’s good for business, it’s good for education, it’s good for communities so it’s something that I think would be great if the government could increase its funding in relation to that and prioritise that as a important element,” he said.

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley was also in Dubbo at the weekend for the Country Labor conference and the rally.

He said governments need to be prepared to invest in the bush.

“We can’t have a state where everybody lives in the state capital, where that’s the only place where there’s good, secure, rewarding jobs,” he said.

The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition consists of a range of regional advocacy groups, including NSW Farmers and the Country Women’s Association of NSW.