Joint Release with Dan Tehan MP, Member for Wannon - Community Consultations on Mobile Phone Black Spots in Wannon

Dan Tehan MP, Federal Member for Wannon today welcomed Paul Fletcher MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications to Wannon to join meetings with local councils, emergency service organisations and mobile service providers to discuss the Coalition’s Mobile Black Spot Programme.

The policy, released prior to the 2013 election, will invest $100 million to improve mobile phone coverage.

“This is the first visit to rural and regional mobile phone black spot areas by Mr Fletcher since he became the Parliamentary Secretary for Communications. I am pleased that we have been able to use these meetings to give Mr Fletcher the chance to hear about the need to improve mobile phone reception in Wannon,” Dan Tehan, Federal Member for Wannon said today.

“Today’s meetings have been extremely informative - this type of community consultation will result in more effective government policies and will deliver real benefits to our communities.

“The former Labor government didn’t spend a cent on improving mobile phone reception in Wannon in six years. The Coalition’s policy is designed to fund wider and more reliable mobile coverage in outer metropolitan, regional and remote communities.”

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher MP said, “A key plank of the Coalition’s Mobile Black Spot Programme is providing $80 million for a Mobile Network Expansion Programme that will improve mobile phone coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters.”

“The Coalition also committed to provide $20 million for a mobile black spot programme to address unique mobile coverage problems, such as locations with high seasonal demand.

“I have heard today of the significant impact of mobile black spots in the Wannon Electorate, including lack of competitiveness of local industry, impact on local health and education services and the lack of connectivity to emergency services in critical situations.

“Today’s discussions gave me a good sense of the importance of mobile phone coverage to rural communities like those in Wannon.

“The funding for this national program will be allocated via an open and transparent process with the detailed rules to be announced in due course following consultation with stakeholders”.