Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) improving mobile communications is of critical importance for people living in regional and remote parts of Australia; and

(b) the Government has committed $220 million over three funding rounds to the Mobile Black Spot Programme which will provide new or upgraded coverage to more than 3,000 black spots in regional and remote areas;

(2) recognises that mobile communications are not only essential for commerce, agriculture and education, but also for emergency services and public safety; and

(3) congratulates the Government for committing public funds to this important program to improve mobile communications in regional and remote Australia.

Today, I take the opportunity to reinforce the critical importance of improving mobile phone communications for the people living in regional and remote parts of Australia. In March this year, we announced the up-to-date information on the rollout of round 1 of the government's $160 million Mobile Black Spot Program. Residents and visitors to Gilmore alike welcomed the announcement.

The website, launched by Telstra, provided details on the construction status and timing of the 429 new or upgraded mobile base stations being established. Kioloa is one of the areas marked for a new station and our local residents have been monitoring this constantly. The website allows people to type in their postcode for updates and click on areas of the national map. The Mobile Black Spot Program will offer dramatic improvements to mobile phone reception throughout Australia.

The government is determined to boost mobile phone coverage across our regional and remote areas. The original rollout was boosted by contributions from Telstra, Vodafone and state and local governments to bring the total investment up to $385 million. The Turnbull government has committed more than $220 million over three funding rounds to fund the Mobile Black Spot Program, which will develop new and upgraded coverage to more than 3,000 blackspots in regional and remote areas.

Recently, the Minister for Regional Communications and the Arts, Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash visited Gilmore and announced the pledge to deliver mobile phone blackspot funding for towers covering the areas of Bewong and Wandandian. I know this has been an ongoing issue for many residents. In addition, the minister also announced funding for Clyde Mountain, better known to the locals as Pooh Corner; East Lynne and Kangaroo Valley. They will also benefit from the funding.

This is an essential safety pledge for the amenities of our local residents and also for the thousands of people travelling on this section of the highway. I remind the House that Labor invested zero dollars in mobile phone blackspots and made built zero towers in their six long years of their government. This government recognises that mobile communications are essential not only for commerce, agriculture and education but also for our emergency services and public safety.

Michele Edwards from Batemans Bay recently wrote me following a local event, the dry swim for the aquatics centre. The following is an extract to show just how important the establishment of a mobile phone tower is for certain locations on the Kings Highway. She writes:

I made it my personal agenda two years ago to see this area covered by mobile phone coverage. I will not rest until I see this completed. The Kings Highway is recorded as having 6,000 vehicle movements per day and has a high accident rate. One-third of the accidents on the highway involve locals. We need to fix this problem. You are unable to call emergency services when you are lying in your car, possibly bleeding or injured. You may be a young or inexperienced driver who cannot call their parents when they are slightly injured or their car breaks down. At the moment if you have an accident, you have to wait for the generosity of the passing vehicle to pull over and offer to help and then you have to wait 30 minutes until they can get to a phone and they are in range to call for an ambulance and help.

Michele's son was overtaken by a speeding driver on double lines. As the son veered to avoid collision, his car spun a 180 degrees and crashed on the opposite side of the road. It took some four vehicles going past before he could actually get help. Michele says:

It is time to fix this problem and I appreciate the efforts that the Turnbull government has taken to rapidly establish mobile phone blackspot remedies for remote areas.

I again remind the House that Labor put in zero dollars and built zero towers during their six years in government. Whilst we on this side acknowledge the importance of the rollout, particularly for safety and especially in light of Michele's letter, we also know that, for the economic value in regional areas, they need to have mobile coverage for tourism, agricultural enterprise and so many other issues, particularly when you have got farmers out in paddocks who may have the misfortune of moving into an area where they get stuck. If they cannot phone for help, they are definitely disadvantaged.

Having a coastal seat like Gilmore, where we have thousands of people bringing their mobile phones with them—and their iPads and everything else—our systems are completely overloaded to the point where businesses cannot get their takings through the phone and their connections because there is just not enough there for them. So this rollout is absolutely fabulous. I am very, very proud of the fact that is my government that has actually been rolling out this massive investment.

See this speech in context