Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a never-ending battle for more mobile phone service in the country. There are many remaining blackspots in Indi, and today I table a component of a petition by the Violet Town community, found compliant by the Petitions Committee. The petition was tabled in the Senate on Tuesday by Senator Jane Hume. It asks the House to facilitate a process ensuring Violet Town and district is provided with a mobile phone service fit for purpose, providing residents with the service that they pay for. I also table a letter undersigned by 121 residents of the Oxley community which requests immediate action to rectify the mobile blackspot that makes communication via mobile phone impossible in their township and surrounding areas.

Colleagues, while I know we're going somewhere with mobile phones—and I noticed in the budget last night there is round 5 and round 6, and four more new mobile phone towers for Indi at Midland Highway in Lima South in Benalla Shire, Berringama and Mt Alfred in Towong Shire, and Smoko and Freeburgh in Alpine Shire—the battle's not over. Wherever you are in rural and regional Australia you should be able to use your mobile phone. The idea of a competitive tendering process is just not working. So I call on the government and the opposition to make the delivery of mobile phone services in regional areas an election issue so that wherever you are you can use your mobile phone.