Joint Release with Andrew Broad MP, Member for Mallee: The Hon Paul Fletcher to visit the Wimmera

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP will visit the Wimmera this Friday to discuss mobile phone black spot issues with local residents.

Member for Mallee, Mr Andrew Broad MP who will visit the area with Mr Fletcher said this was the next step in highlighting the major problem with mobile black spots in the Wimmera Mallee.

"A lot of hard work went into lodging our submission for the Mallee electorate to the Mobile Coverage Programme and now we have secured the visit of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications to our electorate so he can meet with localcommunities and hear first-hand the difficulties they have experienced with mobile black spots, particularly in emergency situations such as the fires earlier this year," he said.

"Many residents experienced life-threatening situations during the fire period and this only reinforced how important it is to have reliable communication services in areas like the Wimmera Mallee," he said.

"I will continue to advocate for better communication services in the Wimmera Mallee and welcome Mr Fletcher's visit to the area as affirmation of the government's commitment to improve mobile coverage in regional areas." Mr Broad said.

"Visiting the electorate with the Member for Mallee will enable me to gain local feedback on how mobile phone coverage might be improved in the Wimmera Mallee, and the areas of greatest concern," Mr Fletcher said.

The Mobile Coverage Programme has two components: $80 million will be provided under the Mobile Network Expansion Project to improve mobile phone coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters. An additional $20 million will be provided under the Mobile Black Spots Project to address unique mobile coverage problems.

For more information about the Mobile Coverage Programme, please visit www.communications.gov.au