THE HON KEN WYATT AM MP,
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HASLUCK
19 May 2016
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield today joined Member for Hasluck Ken Wyatt in Bickley, a nominated black spot for Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme (MBSP).
Round 1 of the programme will provide new or upgraded coverage to 11 of the 19 publicly nominated mobile black spots in Hasluck. The programme will deliver a new mobile base station in Gidgegannup, with the new site expected to be operational by the end of 2016.
Mr Wyatt said he had identified Bickley as a top priority in the electorate.
“I’m pleased to host Minister Fifield today to show him how important mobile communications is in Bickley and I’m glad the area has been nominated as a black spot for consideration under Round 2 of the MBSP,” Mr Wyatt said.
A competitive selection process to determine the locations which will receive new or upgraded coverage under Round 2 is currently underway with an announcement of the outcomes to be made in the second half of 2016.
Minister Fifield said despite being in government for six years, Labor did nothing to improve mobile coverage in the electorate of Hasluck.
“Not a single dollar was invested under Labor to fix mobile black spots,” Minister Fifield said.
“Under the Coalition, we are already rolling out almost 500 new or upgraded mobile base stations nationally, delivering coverage to 3,000 mobile black spot locations nominated by Australians.”
The Coalition’s $100 million commitment to Round 1 attracted co-contributions from state governments, mobile network operators and third parties for a total funding investment of $385 million. The Coalition has also committed an additional $60 million for Round 2 of the programme.
Under the programme, 130 base stations will be built or upgraded in the state of Western Australia and 363 of the 533 black spots nominated in Western Australia will be addressed by handheld or external antenna coverage (or both).
The total funding package to Western Australia will be $118 million, including $29.96 million from the Commonwealth Government and $32 million from the Western Australian Government.