David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today the Minister for Communications gave a truly appalling interview on 2GB with Ben Fordham which fully exposed her personal role in round 6 of the Mobile Black Spot Program. I'd encourage members and anyone who's listening to this broadcast to listen to the interview. You can find it at this URL: 2gb.com/answer-the-question-shocker-interview-with-michelle-rowland. It was indeed a shocker. The minister desperately tried to avoid answering questions but ultimately admitted that she personally hand-picked the list of sites in round 6 of the Mobile Black Spot Program. Seventy-four per cent of those sites were in Labor electorates. She also admitted today, for the first time, that 27 out of the 27 sites that she selected in New South Wales were in Labor electorates. Then she said, 'But it's not pork barrelling.' In New South Wales, 27 out of 27 are in Labor electorates, but the minister says it's not pork-barrelling. People can judge for themselves. I'd really direct people to have a listen to the interview at 2gb.com/answer-the-question-shocker-interview-with-michelle-rowland. This program is a disgrace, and this minister must be held to account.