Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz has today slammed the Federal Labor Government for leaving the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast Hinterland and Logan off the map for its latest round of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
Mr Buchholz said the Mobile Black Spot Program has, under the previous LNP Government invested in significant base station and tower upgrades to mobile coverage across the region.
“The LNP created the Mobile Black Spot Program when we were in Government to help assist our regional communities with increased communications and better connectivity through mobile coverage upgrades, Mr Buchholz said.
“In Government, I was proud to announce funding, and switch on 9 new base stations and towers in our region,
Mr Buchholz said it was therefore disappointing to see Labor exclude the electorate of Wright from the future round of the program and instead target a list made up of 74% Labor areas.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising that Labor, the minute that they assume the Government benches seeks to cut and decimate the regions by ruling the regions in Wright ineligible for nomination and funding.
“Our vast regions in Wright face great environmental challenges like floods and bushfires, we have isolated communities who fight the tyranny of distance from major townships, and they rely on mobile coverage in times of need.
“This program should be above politics, and I call on the Labor Government to reconsider their list of eligible locations under the Mobile Black Spot Program, and ask that they include regions like the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast Hinterland and Logan in the program.
“It is not fair that regional Australians pay the price for Labor’s politics in Canberra.
ENDS
