Government Radio Network

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:56): Supplementary to the minister: given your statement a moment ago in answer to a previous question that there are other forms of communication, will you ensure that your government gets on board with the commonwealth government to increase the prevalence of mobile phone towers around South Australia to cover the deficiency that we have?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:56): Yet again, Mr Speaker, the opposition, rather than standing up for South Australia and saying that the commonwealth government should fulfil its responsibilities and make sure that there are no communication black spots using a mobile phone network, what do members opposite do? They say, 'Let the South Australian taxpayers fund it and not the commonwealth taxpayers fund it.' Since when is a mobile phone network the responsibility of the state? Now, I recognise and we recognise that there have been serious cuts made—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —to this network by the commonwealth government and we may need to step in, but it is another example of members opposite simply accepting another cut to South Australia rather than standing up for us. Shame on them!