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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-07-24 Daily Xml
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Mobile Phone Blackspots

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister provide an update to the house on how the state government is working with the federal government to address mobile blackspots in regional and remote South Australia?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:08): I thank the member for MacKillop for his question, and I know how important it is on this side of the house to understand what Black Spot funding means to regional South Australia, unlike those on the other side who, for how many rounds, contributed nothing to the commonwealth Black Spot funding program.

It is great to see that Senator Bridget McKenzie was recently over here in South Australia to announce round 4—$25 million with the federal government's Black Spot funding program. That is on the back of an election commitment that we on this side—the government—put on the table: $10 million to enhance Black Spot funding in South Australia. This is an initiative that has long been forgotten in regional South Australia.

The federal government and the state government are working collectively together to make sure that we in regional South Australia are being given the opportunities to be competitive, to make sure that we have every opportunity to have mobile phone reception and to make sure that those Black Spot funding programs are put in place for the betterment of regional South Australia.

On this side of the house we have had a number of MPs, particularly in our regions, who have come to me and to this government with issues regarding the lack of mobile phone reception. Just for a little bit of education for that side of the house, when you don't have mobile phone reception in today's age, when you are trying to be competitive on a global stage, on a national stage—it's about being able to connect with your markets. It's about being able to connect with your logistic chain. It's about being able to connect with your advisers when you are trying to get your grain, your produce, your commodities into trains, onto boats, into planes to make sure they get to market on time. You actually have a competitive advantage by being able to put those commodities into a marketplace at a premium price.

What I will say is that out of the first two rounds of Black Spot funding, 867 towers were funded nationally, but here in South Australia only 37 were funded. I think that's an outright disgrace. Western Australia put in $86 million, 338 towers; New South Wales put in $55 million, 327 towers; Victoria put in $50 million, 252 towers; Queensland put in $34 million, 212 towers; and South Australia put in $1.1 million, 37 towers. Do you know what? Out of that $1.5 million you had to give money back. That's how well planned you were. What a disgrace. Once again, regional South Australia was forgotten by the previous government.

On this side of the house we are going to put regional South Australia as a priority. We are going to make sure that Black Spot funding is a priority—

Ms Hildyard: Steady. Bring it down.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —so that we can be competitive, so that we do actually acknowledge that regional South Australia does matter.

Ms Hildyard: Bring it down.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: And I won't calm down. We had 16 years of neglect—16 long years. I live in the regions and many of my colleagues live in the regions.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: That's right: we were neglected.

Ms Hildyard: Why are you yelling?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Well, you need to hear it loud and clear.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: That's right, sir. Can you hear what I'm saying?

The SPEAKER: I can hear it.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Thank you, sir. It is really important that we understand that regions in South Australia do matter. I want to make sure that we have a focus that here in South Australia this government has put $10 million into the Black Spot funding program. That is sitting alongside the contribution from the commonwealth government. It will also be matched by the telcos. That money will also be contributed by industry and by business. It will contribute to making our regions better. Remember, hashtags matter.

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