James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The government is committed to reform of the universal service obligation. That is why we referred it to the Productivity Commission and welcomed the Australian National Audit Office report which found that Labor's USO contracts fail to provide value for money. However, the USO continues to provide telephone services to all Australians, regardless of where they live. Decisions on this important safeguard should be considered carefully and methodically, not via a notice of motion. We will not support changes to existing protections for regional Australians before we have put new, stronger protections in place. The coalition government has already committed $220 million to the Mobile Black Spot Program, funded outside the USO. Between now and the end of 2018, we will roll out 871 mobile towers. We will continue to deliver for regional Australia. We will respond to the Productivity Commission review, taking the ANAO's findings into account.

Question negatived.