Mobile Black Spot Program

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:12): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house about how measures in the federal budget are giving greater mobile phone access to regional South Australia?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:12): Yes, I can. I know that the member for Heysen is excited because he now has the opportunity for more connectivity on the Long Valley Road between Wistow and Strathalbyn—a great outcome. Previously, there were no blackspots in South Australia, but since coming to government we have actually found the blackspots and we are out there working with the federal government.

It has recently been announced that round 4 has been contested and South Australia has seen some significant movement. What we have seen in the previous rounds 1, 2 and 3 is that South Australian regions were ignored. There were no blackspots in the regions of South Australia. What we are seeing now is round 4 a new government and we are now putting money towards it, and an election commitment, $10 million on the table so that we could address some of those blackspots. We are working with the commonwealth government and we are working with the telcos and it's a shared responsibility.

We can announce that 29 mobile towers were announced on Friday 22 March. I was joined by Senator Bridget McKenzie, federal Minister for Regional Communications, as well as the local member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, and the local member for Barker, Tony Pasin, to make that announcement. It's exciting that the regions of South Australia now have the opportunity to be connected to the world. It's amazing how we found the blackspots that the previous government couldn’t find. They ignored them for such a long time.

This is a $19.4 million investment, with $5.3 million from the state government and $5.5 million from the federal government. This is a commitment that the Marshall Liberal government took to the election and we are now delivering. It was also announced that there are a further two rounds, round 5 and round 6. We will use the remainder of that money to leverage both commonwealth money and that telco's money because we are out there addressing the needs, wishes and wants of regional South Australia.

It is also important to note that regional South Australia under the first three rounds received 37 mobile towers out of 867 towers nationally. It is a disgrace that South Australian regions were ignored for such a long time—for almost three years they were ignored. What I can say is that this government is going to govern for all of South Australia.

I will say that Riverton and Rhynie in Frome have received towers. Kangaroo Island has received a tower, as has Compton down at Mount Gambier. There have been a number of towers delivered in Giles. Baird Bay in Flinders and Ettrick in Hammond also received a tower, as well as a number of towers in Stuart, particularly in the Flinders Ranges region. There have also been towers in Chaffey, so that's great news for the people of regional South Australia.

What I can say also to the member for King is that, Little Para Pass also received a tower, so that's great news up there. What we are doing as a government is connecting regional South Australia with the world. We are making sure that we actually stand up for South Australia and the regions included. It is important to note that we will continue to put money on the table to connect regional South Australia with the world.

It is not just about safety, it is not just about our tourists and it is not just about productivity: it is about making sure that our country communities, our regional communities, are connected with the business world, that they are competitive and can go out there on a daily basis and have connection through their mobile service, because we know #RegionsMatter.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is called to order. The Leader of the Opposition.