Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Williams for his question and his very longstanding hard work representing those in his communities. I am delighted to be able to stand here and say today that this coalition government has delivered a highly successful round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Program. There were 6,000 blackspots identified. Round 1 of this program has addressed 3,000 of those blackspots, with 499 towers delivering new or expanded coverage outside our communities. It is a fantastic achievement.

This government is investing $220 million into improving the coverage of mobile phones across this nation. I can only say that is in stark contrast with those opposite, because when we look at what Labor did in terms of addressing blackspots and improving mobile phone coverage, it was absolutely nothing under the Rudd-Gillard government. Absolutely nothing. They delivered not one tower. They delivered not one tower and not one dollar. The contrast between those opposite—the previous Labor government—and what this coalition government is doing is amazing.

The Auditor-General in the recent ANAO report found that we will provide expanded coverage to 162,000 square kilometres. We are, overall in round 1, in partnership, delivering $385 million worth of investment. What did Labor deliver? Absolutely nothing. It is an indictment of the Labor government that they addressed this not once.