Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, access to high-quality mobile coverage isn't a luxury. It can be lifesaving during bushfires and floods. After years of inertia by the previous government, the Albanese Labor government has taken quick action to tackle these black spots to ease everyday frustrations and ensure there's better communication during natural disasters.

In opposition we committed $40 million to improving mobile coverage in specific locations. In Macquarie, these were sites like Blaxlands Ridge, Maraylya and Yellow Rock, with funding awarded through the improved mobile coverage round. Rather than welcoming this funding that they failed to deliver, the opposition would have people believe that delivering on our election commitments is a bad thing. The party of car park rorts, sport rorts, the Great Barrier Reef fund and robodebt simply can't believe that a minister would actually make decisions in line with grant funding rules and guidelines.

I encourage the opposition to join me in welcoming the Australian National Audit Office's findings that the design and awarding of funding for election commitment through the improving mobile coverage round were consistent with Commonwealth grant rules and guidelines. This is great news for Macquarie residents, as we continue to deliver on our election commitments and tackle mobile black spots.

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