Mobile Phone Towers

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (14:47): Should the federal government not fund the 27 mobile phone towers on the Limestone Coast, will the minister's government fund the shortfall?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:48): That does actually lead to one of the wrongful claims that was made in that article I referred to about the connectivity project. In the article, the Hon. Mr Hood says that the government has not made clear that the recently announced project is reliant on federal funding that has not yet been secured, despite the fact that our media release said that this is reliant on co-funding with the federal government. The articles that covered this topic said that this was part of a co-funding project involving Telstra, involving the state government and involving industry, and we are very hopeful that the federal government will come to the party. Perhaps the Hon. Mr Hood might like the correct the public record—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —either that or he can't read the media release. He should be ashamed of this sort of petty politics.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Franks has the floor.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hood and the Hon. Mr Hunter, please, a bit of courtesy for the Hon. Ms Franks.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hood! Minister! Order! The Hon. Mr Hood, you'll get an early minute if you keep it up.