MEDIA RELEASE: Making life easier for Australians living in Burt
The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts
Senator Matt O’Sullivan
Senator for Western Australia
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 22 April 2022
Making life easier for Australians living in Burt
The Morrison Government is improving connectivity for Australians living on the urban fringes of our major cities, today announcing $28.2 million for 66 successful projects to improve mobile coverage, competition and address blackspots, including a project in Burt.
The investments complement the Coalition’s highly successful Mobile Black Spot Program, which is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by building more than 1,200 mobile base stations in regional and remote areas, with over 1,000 already built.
The Minister for Communications, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said, said the Morrison Government is committed to improving mobile connectivity for people living in outer urban areas as part of its plan for a strong economy and a stronger future for Australia.
“Improving coverage on the urban fringe will help communities access vital information during emergencies, seek help if needed and stay in touch with loved ones,” Minister Fletcher said.
Senator for Western Australia, Matt O’Sullivan said, “Today I am pleased to announce we are building a new mobile site to improve coverage for people living and visiting Seville Grove”.
“Communications infrastructure is vital for business, community safety and importantly keeping us connected with family and friends. It is critical infrastructure for a community to have, and I’m proud that the Morrison Government is delivering these upgrades,” Senator O’Sullivan stated.
The new mobile site in Burt will be an Optus site located in Seville Grove.
The 66 successful projects were selected through a competitive assessment, with funding awarded based on the coverage outcomes provided by each solution, under a grants program that was first announced in the 2021-22 Budget as part of the Digital Economy Strategy.
Eligibility for future funding will be expanded beyond our major capital cities to include the urban fringe of other major urban areas including Geelong, Wollongong, Gosford, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and Canberra.
The investments complement the Coalition’s highly successful Mobile Black Spot Program, which is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by building more than 1,200 mobile base stations, with over 1,000 already built.
In contrast to the Morrison Government’s record of building more than 1000 mobile base stations across Australia, Labor did build a single mobile base station during six years in office.
Only the Morrison Government will continue to deliver a better future for Burt, and this is part of our plan to build a strong economy and a stronger future.
Media Contact: Coalition Campaign Headquarters: T: (07) 3877 1410
