Two Queensland councils in desperate need of netter internet will apply for a $22 million telecommunications fix-up, even though Prime Minister Tony Abbott has already told them they will get the support.

The shires of Diamantina and the Barcoo have been lobbying for years to have their telecoms infrastructure upgraded, as internet and mobile phone services only seem to worsen.

On a visit to Longreach earlier this year, Mr Abbott said $7 million in federal funds would be provided to support the $22 million plan to lay fibre optic cable to communities.

The fibre optic plan will also require contributions from the Queensland Government and Telstra.

“Back in May we were led to believe that the $7 million had been allocated by the Prime Minister for this project and we were led to believe it was quarantined,” Diamantina Mayor Geoff Morton

“We are now told that we have to apply under the Stronger Regions program to fund this project.”

“I maintain confidence in the integrity of the Prime Minister's word and handshake - [it's] just that we have to go about it in a slightly different way than we were led to believe,” he said.

“I was disappointed, because we were probably misled.

“We only had a fortnight from the time we were told we have to go back into the Stronger Regions mix until the closing of the deadline, which meant a lot of people had to do a lot of work very quickly.

“I guess that is the way the wheels of government move - it's probably not the way you and I would do things, but apparently that is the way the Government moves.”

Federal Maranoa MP Bruce Scott, an LNP member, says Mr Abbott did not renege on the deal.

Mr Scott said the project had to be submitted to existing funding channels so that it could be checked by the auditor-general's test for value for money.

“What we committed to has to go through a due process,” he said.

“During the election campaign, there are many commitments - promises if you like - made, but all of those commitments have to go through the scrutiny of a process.

“That's what is going to happen in this case - so there is a paper trail, there is value for money, that it will bring a net benefit to the community, and the fact that the councils have committed more money, and it makes their case stronger.”