LABOR PUTTING LIVES AT RISK FOR POLITICAL GAIN

Riverina MP Michael McCormack has slammed Labor’s clear favouritism towards its own seats in the latest round of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

Of the 26 available grants in the Improving Mobile Coverage round of the program, the Minister for Communications directed her department to provide 25 of those to Labor electorates.

Mr McCormack said this is a slap in the face to regional communities.

“Reportedly, the Minister for Communications has ignored the advice of the Department and directed it to ensure Labor-held seats were looked after,” Mr McCormack said.

“Can the Minister explain why neighbouring electorate Eden-Monaro, held by Labor, received nine grants whilst Riverina received none?

“The Mobile Black Spot Program should be a needs-based program and the Improving Mobile Coverage rounds were initiated by the former Coalition Government to ensure everyone had access to good mobile reception. Labor is showing its true colours of how it intends on spending your taxpayer money.

“This is a disgraceful use of public funds for political point-scoring at the potential cost of people’s lives.

“The successful Mobile Black Spot Program was started under the Coalition Government after not one regional base station was built under six sorry years under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor Government.

“Now that Labor has finally realised the need to address mobile black spots, it’s only interested in looking after its own.

“More than 1,200 mobile base stations were funded by the Coalition between 2013-22 and more than 900 were installed across Australia under the program, which covered electorates held by MPs of all political persuasions.

“Labor needs to stop favouring its own electorates and distribute this important funding on a needs basis.”