{
  "id": 59373,
  "title": "Outback businesses blame Live Traffic NSW for customer downturn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/outback-businesses-blame-live-traffic-nsw-for-customer-downturn",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T21:35:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/outback-businesses-blame-live-traffic-nsw-for-loss-of-customers/106948060"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Small businesses in the remote Australian outback are blaming Live Traffic NSW for a decline in customers due to inaccurate information about road conditions. After heavy rainfall, roads in the area reopened, but the Live Traffic NSW website and app are slow to reflect these updates, causing confusion among travelers. Mia Degoumois, who owns a roadhouse in the outback, has seen a 12.5% drop in tourism this winter, attributing part of the loss to the website's inaccuracies. Rebecca Young, who runs a hotel, says her business has seen a 80-90% decrease in traffic this season, and she is unsure if she can stay open through the summer. Kathy Brown, owner of a store and caravan park, has received hundreds of calls from confused drivers, and discrepancies between Live Traffic NSW information and road signs have led travelers to take longer routes. Tony Bond, from Yass, is planning a trip to Cameron Corner but is frustrated by the discrepancies in the information provided by Live Traffic NSW and local reports. These issues highlight the challenges faced by businesses and travelers in remote areas, where accurate and up-to-date information is crucial for decision-making.",
  "summary": "Small businesses in the outback say inaccuracies on Live Traffic NSW about whether roads are open or closed, or if they even exist, are causing confusion among travellers and a loss of vital income.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}