John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, can I take this opportunity to wish you, all the senators and especially the chamber staff all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Honourable senators: Hear, hear!

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Regional Communication, Senator Nash. Can the minister update the Senate on the rollout of the coalition government's Mobile Black Spot Program?

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

I thank the senator for his question and acknowledge his incredible, longstanding efforts for the people of regional Australia. I am absolutely delighted to stand here today and advise the chamber that this morning, with the Prime Minister, I announced round 2 of the coalition's mobile phone black spot program—a further $60 million invested into expanding our mobile phone black spot program.

It is not only the $60 million. With the telecommunications companies and state and territory governments leveraging around an extra $150 million, we have seen a total of $213 million invested into expanding mobile phone coverage across this country. There are 266 new base stations, which is a great achievement. This will provide new or upgraded coverage across rural and regional communities—6,300 homes and businesses will now have new or upgraded coverage—and 17,700 square kilometres across Australia's land now has increased or new mobile phone coverage. We have seen 1,900 kilometres of our major roads now covered and able to get mobile phone coverage. In round 2 we have now addressed 1,400 black spots where we did not have coverage before.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

I will take the interjection from Senator Macdonald who said, 'That is just amazing.' Thank you so much, Senator Macdonald. This is a great outcome driven by the coalition and driven initially, I might say, by the Prime Minister as communications minister and continuing to be driven by him as the Prime Minister. We have achieved great outcomes for people in regional Australia.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Williams, a supplementary question.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for her answer and also the lovely cherries from the Young district. Thanks, as always. Can the minister outline how the Mobile Black Spot Program is improving mobile coverage for people living in the regions?

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

One of the great things about this program is that, while we talk about the numbers and the great investment, this is improving and changing the lives of people out on the ground in our communities at places like Mount Chalmers in Queensland, where the Livingstone Shire Council has made a contribution to a base station to bring mobile coverage to 114 farming, grazing and residential properties—when completed the base station will also provide coverage to the 1,344 vehicles that move through the area on a daily basis—and at places like Clarke Creek in Queensland between Rockhampton and Gladstone, where the installation of the mobile tower has been a game changer for the local Clarke Creek school. They will now get 4GX mobile broadband service under the program. I have to commend my colleague Michelle Landry, the member for Capricornia, for her tireless work in ensuring that this was delivered.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Williams, a final supplementary question.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches to improving mobile coverage in regional Australia?

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

I am indeed. I thought that this might best be done by way of a scorecard, because those opposite, the Labor Party, have a very different approach. Black spots being covered by the coalition: 4,400; Labor: zero. The phone towers being delivered by the coalition: 765; those delivered by Labor: zero. Square kilometres of new hand-held coverage delivered by the coalition: 86,300 square kilometres; Labor: zero. Funding delivered under the coalition: $220 million. Colleagues, how many dollars do we think Labor delivered? Zero! They delivered absolutely nothing. It is this coalition that will continue to deliver for the people of regional Australia.