Member for Barker Tony Pasin has renewed his push for Federal Government funding to improve mobile telecommunications across the electorate following almost 500 local residents reporting mobile blackspots to his office in just over a month.<\/p>\n
Mr Pasin said the overwhelming response was a clear indication of the Federal Government\u2019s failure to deliver basic telecommunications services in the regions.<\/p>\n
\u201cA mobile phone is no longer a luxury. It\u2019s a key piece of safety equipment and vital for doing business,\u201d Mr Pasin said.<\/p>\n
Mr Pasin said the Albanese Labor Government has no credibility when it comes to addressing mobile blackspots and after two years in Government Labor has been shutting down the 3G network and failed to fund and construct any new mobile base stations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter more than two years of the Albanese Labor Government mobile reception in Barker is now considerably worse than it was under the former Coalition Government,\u201d Mr Pasin said.<\/p>\n
While the telecommunications companies gave their commitment that 3G-only areas would not be disadvantaged and would not experience a loss of coverage as a result of the switch off, Mr Pasin said the proof has certainly been in the pudding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Albanese Labor Government has overseen the 3G switch off which has left many areas of Barker with diminished or no service,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, Labor has failed to fund and build any new base stations to increase 4G coverage prior to the 3G switch off.\u201d<\/p>\n
In stark contrast, under the former Coalition Government, more than 30 new mobile base stations were funded and built in Barker, helping to improve mobile coverage for thousands of regional residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI simply don\u2019t trust the Labor Government on regional telecommunications and while I\u2019ve been fighting for a list of locations in Barker to receive new mobile base stations through Federal Government funding programs, this list has now grown significantly under Labor,\u201d Mr Pasin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2022, Anthony Albanese promised no one would be left behind under the Albanese Labor government. Unfortunately, it seems he wasn\u2019t talking about regional Australia,\u201d Mr Pasin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Member for Barker Tony Pasin has renewed his push for Federal Government funding to improve mobile telecommunications across the electorate following almost 500 local residents reporting mobile blackspots to his office in just over a month. Mr Pasin said the overwhelming response was a clear indication of the Federal Government\u2019s failure to deliver basic telecommunications […]<\/p>\n