Victoria opts to go it alone

Mobile black spot rebuff

THE State Government has dumped a Commonwealth mobile phone black spot program, citing concerns their federal colleagues were simply picking sites for political gain.

The Andrews Labor Government will now go back to the drawing board to choose new mobile phone tower locations, in consultation with Regional Partnerships, councils and Emergency Management Victoria.

Innovation Minister Philip Dalidakis said the change came amid concerns the Federal Government was using its Mobile Black Spot Program as a pork barrelling exercise.

“Malcolm Turnbull continues to choose sites that are in his political interests, not the interests of regional Victoria,” Mr Dalidakis said.

Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson said Labor’s decision to replace the Commonwealth project was a disgrace.

“Many of these communities are in areas of high fire danger,” Ms Henderson said. “Consider what the people of Dereel have endured, for instance.

“This is one more example of the Labor Party turning its back on regional communities.”

About 200 mobile phone black spots plague the Geelong region, Department of Communications’ Mobile Black Spot Database show — with 166 in the Corangamite electorate and 17 in Corio.

Mobile base stations have been funded for 14 locations in the Corangamite and Corio areas, under the first two rounds of the original program. Remaining priority locations at Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Bellbrae and Birregurra will now be reconsidered by the new State Government project, which does not yet have a timeline.

Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said that the new project would be delivered with advice from Emergency Management Victoria, local councils and Regional Partnerships

“We will not compromise when it comes to community needs and safety,” Ms Pulford said.

“We know how frustrating the digital divide is for rural Victorians and we’ll continue to bridge the gap for rural industries, motorists, train travellers and residents while the Federal Government try to fix their botched NBN rollout.”

The State Government will use $11 million it had earmarked for the third round of the initial program to fund its revamped project — which it will undertake in partnership with the telecommunications industry.

Under the first two rounds of the Commonwealth project, Victoria received 142 new base stations.