LIBERAL candidate for Paterson, Brooke Vitnell, has announced her mobile blackspot campaign to eradicate frustrating and dangerous mobile phone blackspots in communities throughout the Paterson electorate.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Paul Fletcher, and Ms Vitnell attended a mobile blackspot location to better understand community concerns and hear about key locations where mobile coverage needed to be improved, including: Fern Bay, Bobs Farm (Sandhills), Boat Harbour, Cliftleigh, Gillieston Heights, Medowie/Campvale and Kurri Kurri.

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“I understand that delivering for our community means working hard every day to deliver outcomes and I’m proud to have the Minister here during the first week of the campaign to discuss solving our mobile blackspots,” Ms Vitnell said.

“We need solutions such as upgrades to existing towers, or new mobile base stations so we can stay connected.

“I want to ensure the entire electorate has mobile coverage – especially in our towns, and on our roads and highways.

“The ability to communicate is paramount, especially in times of emergency.

“Telecommunications are an essential service for all communities across the Paterson electorate and only the Liberal/Nationals Government has an economic plan that will ensure we can improve these services.”

The Morrison Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program has seen over 1,000 towers already built throughout Australia.

“The Morrison Government is committed to continuing to work with industry and state and local governments to improve mobile coverage and connectivity across Australia,” Minister Fletcher said.

“I welcome Brooke’s advocacy on this crucial issue to the community which is in stark contrast to the current local Labor Member of Parliament, who has not sought to regularly engage with me in Canberra to solve these issues.”

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson is sceptical of the Morrison Government’s plans and said that she has been advocating for the community since her election.

“This Morrison Government has an appalling record when it comes to Black Spot funding at a local level.

“It’s been promising to upgrade blackspots in Paterson since before the last election, but continually failed to do so, however, I welcome their commitment to finally get around to it but know the community will greet it with appropriate scepticism on the eve of an election,” Ms Swanson said.

Ms Swanson said that both herself and her staff have been calling on the Government to fix blackspots since she was elected in 2016 but claims that “the Minister has just not been paying attention”.

“I have written to the Minister’s predecessors Mark Coulton, Fiona Nash and Mitch Fifield repeatedly over blackspot promises the Liberals have previously made and failed to deliver.

“Residents in Fern Bay/Fullerton Cove and Boat Harbour especially have been incredibly frustrated with their lack of service.

“My staff have continually advocated for them and have liaised at great length with telcos Telstra and Optus to have services improved,” she said.

Ms Swanson said that the community will have to “wait and see if this upgrade is actually delivered”.

By Tara CAMPBELL