Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

There's a lot of noise! This is in contrast to those opposite, who are yet to deliver one mobile base station in rural and regional Australia or commit one single dollar to improving rural and regional telecommunications infrastructure across regional Australia, including in your home state, Senator Martin, of Tasmania. In fact Vodafone has just switched on its base station in Hamilton in the seat of Lyons. It's one of 26 base stations for that electorate. This has only been possible because of the coalition's committing to deliver that program.

I'm very pleased to advise senators that the coalition government is delivering on its commitment to improve mobile phone coverage with an additional $25 million in a fourth round of the program. In fact I was down in Braddon with you, Senator Martin, and the fabulous Liberal candidate, Brett Whiteley, making that announcement in Melrose. The fourth round will see coverage expanded further, with a focus on driving improved outcomes for regional businesses, residents, tourism, health, education and emergency services.

If we want to see our regions grow and compete, we know they've got to have the telecommunications infrastructure to support and enable them to do so. They're important. We're the only ones committed to doing that. They're important for customers, local families, emergency service provision and local businesses. We do not resile from our commitment to ensure that those in the regions have the telecommunications infrastructure that they need and deserve, just like those in the city.