13 May 2016
EO&E
MITCH FIFIELD:
It’s great to be with Sarah Wade, our candidate for Ballarat, to talk about our plan for Jobs and Growth and for a strong new economy. And an important underpinning of the new economy is good communications and I’m here today to look at a mobile blackspot of Mt Helen.
The Coalition Government, when it came into office, had to make up for some lost time. The previous government did not have a mobile blackspot program. The previous government did not spend a dollar on mobile blackspots. So Malcolm Turnbull as Communications Minister established a $100 million mobile blackspot program which leveraged contributions from State Governments, Local Governments, and Telcos into a $385 million fund that was able to agree to 499 new mobile blackspot base stations to address 3000 of the 6000 community nominated mobile blackspots.
In Ballarat, there have been seven successful base stations through the first round which will address 83 of the 94 community nominated blackspots.
We’ve put $60 million on the table for round 2 of the mobile blackspot program, and Sarah Wade is championing Mt Helen as a location that needs to be covered to ensure the blackspot is eliminated.
It’s also been great to be with Sarah earlier at Ballan to look at the rollout there of the NBN. Within a few days’ time, we will see the fibre to the node switched on for 1300 premises in that area.
The story across Ballarat is good. There are about 46,000 premises that can now access the NBN compared with 14,000 premises under our predecessors. And because of the approach we’re taking to the NBN, we’ll see it rolled out nationwide 6 to 8 years sooner than would’ve been the case under our predecessors and at $30 billion less cost.
QUESTION:
In the age of technology, why is it so important that mobile blackspots are addressed?
MITCH FIFIELD:
Well, our mobile phones are ubiquitous. Everyone has one we can’t imagine life without a mobile phone. Ensuring that we have coverage is important for tourism, important for business, and also for emergency services, and at times of natural disasters. While there’s about 99% coverage of the mobile network in terms of population, there’s only about 33% of the Australian landmass which is covered. So it’s very important. And one of the things that’s very regrettable is that the Australian Labor Party, despite the fact they did not have a mobile blackspot program during six years in government, has not committed to maintain our mobile blackspot program. The only way to ensure the maintenance of a mobile blackspot program is for Sarah Wade to be elected in Ballarat.
QUESTION:
How will local businesses in Mt Helen benefit from this program?
MITCH FIFIELD:
The mobile blackspot program aims to fill gaps in mobile network coverage so that people can have more seamless connection. It’s important for families to stay in touch. It’s important for businesses to keep in contact with customer. And it’s also important for emergency services and the community at times of natural disaster.
QUESTION:
Minister, would you be encouraging the State Government and Telcos to come to the party and invest on the $60 million?
MITCH FIFIELD:
Absolutely, the purpose of the $60 million is to encourage Telcos to invest in mobile base stations in situations where it mightn’t otherwise be commercially feasible. We want to see contributions from the Telcos; we want to see contributions from the State Government.
QUESTION:
Sarah can you tell us why is this an important issue here?
SARAH WADE:
It’s an important issue because, as I’ve said to you numerous times now, I’ve been out and about in the electorate speaking to people and families in particular, and I’m trying to identify areas that really are in need of extra coverage or coverage. Mt Helen has been one that has been identified to me over and over.
QUESTION:
What impact would this have on the people who live here and operate businesses and also emergency services?
SARAH WADE:
This is going to have a huge impact because it’s going to allow young people who have mobile phones, and we know today that most young people do; families aren’t using landlines as much as they did; they’re relying on their mobile phones and particularly with emergency services, clearly we’ve seen earlier, or last year I should say, in relation to natural disasters, that it’s absolutely imperative that we are able to pick up a mobile phone at any time and be able to this get access.
QUESTION:
Sarah, do you feel betrayed that Paul Tatchell didn’t let you know he was running?
SARAH WADE:
No, not at all. I actually welcome Paul Tatchell to the Coalition team, and I think he’s going to be an excellent addition.
QUESTION:
Are you concerned that he has a much better profile than you, and that might change your chances?
SARAH WADE:
I believe that the profile of Paul Tatchell is wonderful; I’m really looking forward to working with Paul Tatchell.
QUESTION:
Were you surprised by the announcement?
SARAH WADE:
I wouldn’t say surprised I am welcoming the announcement and I’m looking forward to working with Paul Tatchell.
QUESTION:
Sarah Wade, where do you stand on national redress for abuse victims?
SARAH WADE:
I have said and I will say again that I have, and continue to have absolute sympathy, and believe that what happened in relation to this is absolutely horrid, and deplorable, and should never happen in this society.
QUESTION:
Sarah, forgive me, but where do you stand on the redress scheme?
SARAH WADE:
I believe that is a question that should be put to the Attorney General at this stage.
QUESTION:
Catherine King says that it’s quite strange that you haven’t come out with a view on this, given that so many people in Ballarat support this. How do you respond to those comments?
SARAH WADE:
As I said, this is a question that I would be urging you to put to the Attorney General’s office at this time.
QUESTION:
But you’re the Ballarat candidate; the Attorney General has nothing to do with Ballarat.
SARAH WADE:
As I said, this is a question that at this time I would be urging you to put to the Attorney General’s office.
MITCH FIFIELD:
As someone who’s spoken to the Attorney on this issue, the Federal Government is working closely with its State counterparts on all the recommendations of the Royal Commission. The redress scheme is obviously something that is being widely canvassed. These are very complex issues, and they need to be worked through methodically by the commonwealth with the states.
QUESTION:
And also, the Nationals haven’t had a candidate since the 1980s, what do you think this will bring to the election campaign?
SARAH WADE:
I think it’s going to bring a lot of colour, a lot of interest, and as I said I’m going to look forward to working with the Nationals. I believe that we will have a strong and healthy relationship.
QUESTION:
Do you believe you have what it takes to come up against Catherine King?
SARAH WADE:
As I said, I don’t take any vote for granted. I believe that I have a lot of hard work in front of me, and I welcome that hard work. I welcome getting into the election, and continuing to work with the people, and continuing to do the job that I’m doing.
QUESTION:
Minister, do you mind if I ask you about the ABC funding arrangements? Minister the changes to the ABC funding are to the tune of about $20m, what would you be urging the ABC to look at?
MITCH FIFIELD:
Well the good news with the ABC is that the triennial base funding has been maintained. It’s also good news that the enhanced news service has been maintained. The ABC asked for $47 million and they’ve been given something in the order of $41-42 million. So the Government has substantially given the ABC what it asked for. And that’s great. That means that the key elements of the enhanced news service will continue.
QUESTION:
The ABC’s new Chief Executive Michelle Guthrie says that it is probably an indication that the ABC is doing good work if it got the majority of its funding back. The ABC does however, have to make some cost efficiencies. Where would you suggest that would be?
MITCH FIFIELD:
Well it’s entirely for the ABC board and management to determine how their budget is deployed. And the new Managing Director has made clear that they would be able to maintain the fundamentals of the enhanced news Service.
Thank you.
[ends]