Member for Hume Angus Taylor says more mobile black spots across Australia will receive coverage as part of the Coalition’s additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Programme.

“The Turnbull Coalition Government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia,” Mr Taylor said.

“That is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million.

“More new mobile base stations will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents.”

Mr Taylor said the active cooperation of mobile network operators was strong, with 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3000 black spots nationwide already being rolled out under the Coalition Government.

This includes 18 new or upgraded base stations for Hume funded under the $100 million first round of the Mobile Black Spot Programme including the recently switched-on tower at Blue Mountains National Park South (Werombi).

“Improved telecommunications is happening in Hume, with more towers being switched-on soon, including the Windellama tower south of Goulburn and the one at Darbys Falls near Cowra. They are expected to be operating by the end of June,” Mr Taylor said.

Successful locations under the $60 million second round of the Mobile Black Spot Programme will be announced by the end of 2016.

“The previous Labor government did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia,” Mr Taylor said.

“The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional and remote communities have access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.”

This is another example of the Coalition’s commitment to drive investment as part of our national economic plan for jobs and growth.

For more information about the Mobile Black Spot Programme visit www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage  or www.telstra.com.au/blackspots .

Caption: Angus Taylor said the Coalition has committed an additional $60 million to fix more mobile phone blackspots.