15 June 2016
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen together with the Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield today announced that a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Team will deliver improved mobile phone coverage to Cedar Creek, North Maclean and Wongawallan, as part of an additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Programme.
“New mobile base stations in Cedar Creek, North Maclean and Wongawallan will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents,” Mr van Manen said.
“The Turnbull Coalition Government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia and that is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million.
“The Coalition is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand,” Mr van Manen said.
To date, the Mobile Black Spots Programme has committed to 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3,000 black spots and is the most significant one-time increase in mobile network coverage to regional and remote Australia.
Minister Fifield said following the success of the Coalition’s initial $100 million investment, another $60 million funding round is already under way, with successful locations to be announced by the end of 2016.
“Despite being in Government for six years, Labor did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia,” Minister Fifield said.
“The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional and remote communities have access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.”