TURNBULLS MISMANAGEMENT SEE TELSTRA STEP UP TO FIX MOBILE PHONE BLACK SPOT ISSUES IN NORTH WEST TASMANIA

13 April 2018

Malcolm Turnbulls mismanagement of the mobile phone black spot program has seen Telstra step up to fill the void and commence work to fix mobile phone black spot issues for residences and businesses at Sulphur Creek on the North West Coast of Tasmania.

Visiting Sulphur Creek, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Stephen Jones MP, criticised the delivery of the mobile phone black spots program.

The program has been marred by a lack of transparency and clear, evidence-based decision making," Mr Jones said

The Australia National Audit Office (ANAO), Productivity Commission and Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) have all expressed concern at the administration of this program.

In May 2016 Malcolm Turnbull promised that a re-elected Coalition Government would immediately invite mobile phone carriers to bid for funding to provide coverage at Sulphur Creek.

Federal Member for Braddon Justine Keay said, Almost two years later that promise has been broken and it has been left up to Telstra to build its own tower to provide mobile phone coverage to Sulphur Creek.

I assisted a community campaign including inviting Telstra to a public meeting and tabling petitions in Federal Parliament.

This campaign has now seen Telstra commence work on its own mobile phone tower, rather than wait for the Turnbull Government to act.

Malcolm Turnbull has let down the Sulphur Creek community and Telstra are to be congratulated for delivering a new service.

Telstra advises construction of a new tower will be complete by the end of the year.