Mobile Phone Connectivity

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of regional mobile connectivity.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: There have been growing concerns from regional South Australians and regional people across Australia more broadly about mobile phone connectivity issues, particularly since the recent shutdown of the 3G network. The Grain Producers SA grain producers' survey, which recently featured in their latest magazine spring edition, reported that 48 per cent of farmers do not have reliable connectivity on their farm, with 54 having to invest their own money to improve connectivity. GPSA's survey insight report also observed that there was a clear concern that poor connectivity is not only a business risk but a safety risk to those working on farm.

Over a year ago, the state government announced plans to install 27 new mobile phone towers in the South-East. The most recent update on the rollout was provided by the Minister for Planning two months ago in the other place, and with the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development advising that Telstra is still working with the commonwealth government on the funding contract, with no news as to when the rollout will begin. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development are:

1. When will the rollout of the 27 new mobile phone towers for the South-East begin?

2. What is the state government doing to improve regional mobile connectivity for other parts of regional South Australia that are suffering mobile blackspots and poor mobile connectivity issues?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his question. It is certainly the case that we have committed, in partnership with industry, with Telstra and with local government, to having additional mobile phone connectivity in the South-East of the state across the Limestone Coast.

It was an announcement that was received very positively. I think it is particularly telling to be able to share with the chamber that one of the reasons that the federal government gave for their commitment to this very important project was the fact that it was a partnership across local government, state government and industry; in fact, it was described as, I think the words were 'an exemplar' of how these sorts of agreements could potentially operate across the country.

My most recent advice is that the contractual arrangements between Telstra and the commonwealth government were executed in the last fortnight. Telstra is now working with the South Australian Government Financing Authority to finalise the South Australian funding agreement, which I understand could not occur until that commonwealth Telstra contractual arrangement was completed.

I am advised that this agreement is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. Following the execution of the state funding agreement, Telstra will commence its usual process by lodging development applications for the towers. I look forward to this process continuing. It's a wonderful investment by the federal Labor government, the state Labor government, industry and local government and it is something that will be, I am sure, very well received by the Limestone Coast community.