Regions missing out on mobile black spot funding

Communities in regional Australia are losing out on funding for mobile black spot grants. Shadow communications minister David Coleman has revealed that Labor has hand-picked ALP seats in the latest round of the Improving Mobile Coverage Round funding.

Mr Coleman said 74% of $40 million in grants were going to Labor electorates despite the ALP holding only 33% of regional seats.

“We’re seeing a blatant example of the government using the mobile black spot fund as a piggy bank for ALP seats for what is clearly a political exercise to benefit Labor MPs,” Mr Coleman said. “This is a shameful misuse of taxpayer funds in the mobile black spot program that is hurting local communities in regional areas.”

Member for Longman Terry Young said he was appalled that residents in his electorate were being put at risk by being excluded from Labor’s list of favoured electorates for upgrades to mobile coverage.

“When you have farmers and local businesses struggling to get produce to market or when you have regional areas at risk of being hit by natural disaster, you need the best mobile coverage you can get,” Mr Young said.