Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Now, it appears the member is confusing election commitments with other funding allocations that were made under the October budget. We also have public consultation on the draft grant opportunity guidelines from 14 November to 28 November 2022 conducted by the department. The feedback provided in the consultation process was used to prepare the final grant opportunity guidelines that were published on 2 February.

Now, let's be very clear. We also have, under our better connectivity plan, $150 million over two streams. There is $100 million for place based connectivity solutions, and $50 million for mobile black spot solutions, to deliver new mobile coverage to regional, rural and remote areas.

So it is very clear that, under this program, which is an election commitment, for which guidelines went out to the public to determine, and for which we had commitments to improve connectivity in areas which had elevated bushfire and flooding risks, right across Australia, we had local communities contribute to these draft guidelines. What I would say to those opposite is that I encourage them to work with their local communities on these rounds of black spot funding, for which the guidelines have been open for public consultation. This government is delivering on its election commitments. This government urges those opposite to do the best by their local communities and participate in that process. (Time expired)

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