Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Out of respect for all members here in the chamber, I will keep my question relatively short. I would also like to put to the minister a question in relation to our Mobile Black Spot Program. I note that, in my electorate in round 1, 10 base stations were funded. None of those areas had any proper mobile coverage. I have to say that Labor, in the previous six years, did not provide one dollar to fix one mobile black spot anywhere in the country. In contrast, our program has been absolutely applauded throughout all rural and regional communities right across this nation. I know that when we turned on the mobile base station in Carlisle River—the first base station to be turned on in Corangamite—a tiny settlement for the first time felt that somebody was listening. Dereel, where there was a terrible bushfire in February 2013—again a community that felt completely isolated because they did not have access to mobile coverage—has also been funded, along with Gellibrand, and base stations have been fast-tracked there. I also want to briefly mention Bellbrae, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Birregurra, which have also been funded in election commitments that we gave prior to the last election.

For the communities I represent—a very large regional area in Victoria—I am incredibly proud of what we are delivering. I ask the minister to update the chamber on the rollout of the Mobile Black Spot Program and the extent to which this is making a real difference in rural and regional communities.

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