SA Liberals pledge $10m to fix black spots if elected

The South Australian Liberal opposition has pledged to invest $10 million to fix the worst mobile black spots in the state if elected in March.

State Liberal leader Steven Marshall has unveiled a policy of improving mobile coverage in regional South Australia, particularly the Adelaide Hills region, which is notorious for its mobile black spots.

If elected, the state Liberal party plans to work with mobile providers on delivering new towers for these areas and seek to negotiate possible co-funding arrangements.

He said the $10 million commitment represents more than five times the amount the incumbent Weatherill Labor government has committed to the federal mobile black spot program.

“The Weatherill government was the only state government not to contribute any funding at all in round one of the program and only contributed a pathetic $1.5 million compared with the $144 million spent by all other state governments,” Marshall said.

“Increasing connectivity will make regional businesses more productive, open up tourism opportunities and improve the lives and safety of those living in and travelling through our regions. Farming businesses are now heavily reliant on technology and greater connectivity will make these businesses more productive, which helps grow our economy and support regional jobs.”

He noted that demand for mobile-based internet services is increasing across the state as primary producers and farmers grow increasingly reliant on the technology.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/R. Roth

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