Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome the fourth round of the Mobile Black Spot Program. This is a landmark initiative of the Liberal-National government that identifies, funds and fixes mobile phone black spots across regional and rural Australia. This government understands the importance of a reliable mobile phone connection, from doing business to potentially saving a life, and, with 572 base stations already activated, more Australians than ever can enjoy a reliable mobile signal.

In Canning we've had four base stations funded under the Mobile Black Spot Program—in Waroona, Dwellingup, Lake Clifton and Serpentine/Keysbrook. But there's more work to be done. I frequently receive correspondence from constituents in Bedfordale, Roleystone, Falcon, Byford and Boddington. Many of them can't get reception in their homes, some of them can't get reception in their street, and a few of them have to drive to town just to check their voicemail. These people, the residents of Canning, are the reason we're committing $25 million to the fourth round of the Mobile Black Spot Program. Rather than wait for their provider to find money for another tower, residents can nominate their mobile black spots directly to the federal government, and that's exactly what's happening in my electorate. I've created a poll on my website of the worst mobile black spots in Canning, and I invite everyone in my electorate to head to my website www.andrewhastie.com.au/canningblackspots and vote for the black spot they want funded or nominate one of their own. I'm grateful for the responses I've already received, and I look forward to working with my constituents to fix mobile black spots in Canning.