National audit report confirms flaws in mobile blackspot scheme

The Australian National Audit Office has today issued a damning report on the Government’s handling of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

This $220 million programme is supposed to improve public safety and expand mobile phone coverage across Australia.

However, it is of note that more than 80 per cent of the locations for new mobile phone towers announced are in Liberal or National electorates with less than seven per cent in electorates held by Labor Members.

The ANAO report, tabled in Parliament on Friday 2 September, found that:

• The delivery of the programme didn’t deliver value for money for consumers.
• Insufficient attention was paid to local issues and community need.
• A series of “awareness forums” conducted by the Government only benefited Coalition-held seats.

Senator Helen Polley has today said that the Coalition has questions to answer on the Mobile Black Spot scheme and must also re-commit to it in Tasmania.

The Government has consistently talked about fixing mobile black spots. But this report confirms that the priority for site selection was political, not community need.

Mobile black spots are a real problem for many people, including those vulnerable to natural disasters such as bushfires or flash flooding.

The ANAO report should be a wake-up call for this cynical Government. They have ignored non-Coalition held seats and neglected to properly manage a programme that has serious flaws.”

Senator Polley promised that Labor was committed to fixing mobile black spots in all corners of Australia and vowed to hold the Coalition Government to their election commitment to build new mobile phone towers in the north and north east to target black spot areas in Blackstone Heights, Flinders Island, Beechford, Lefroy and Musselroe Bay.

My colleagues and I are 100 per cent committed to ensuring this Coalition Government delivers on all its election commitments especially black spot funding.

Senator Helen Polley