Mobile Black Spot Program

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:07): I have a question for my boss in this chamber and the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Can the minister inform the chamber how the federal Liberal government has failed to deliver for regional South Australia through its mobile black spot program?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. The federal Liberal government—the bosses of those opposite, as we have heard today—has announced sites to be funded under round 2 of the mobile black spot program for South Australia. As a result, they have confirmed their complete and utter failure for many of this state's regional communities.

Members may recall that this state Labor government contributed $2 million to round 2 of the federal government's mobile black spot program. Today, the federal Liberal government has announced that 20 sites will be funded through the program, 15 of which will receive state government support. It is disappointing that, of the $2 million the state government put up, the federal Liberals chose—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Well, of the $2 million that the state government put up—and here is the embarrassment for the Hon. Terry Stephens—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Here's the embarrassment for the Hon. Terry Stephens—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! There are a number of crossbenchers here who have questions they want to ask. If the opposition and the government are going to continue to interject on each other while the time goes by, I will give the crossbenchers their questions ahead of yours. Any more interjections and I will go straight to the next crossbench question.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you, Mr President. It was very disappointing to hear what the federal Liberals have done—the bosses of the Hon. Terry Stephens, their bosses in the federal government. The South Australian government put up—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Sit down. The Hon. Ms Franks.