Labors Regional Communications Spokesperson Stephen Jones and Richmond MP Justine Elliot today announced that Labor will allocate up to $2 million to fix mobile blackspots in Lennox Head, Ocean Shores, Pottsville and Uki.

This is critical infrastructure that saves lives in an emergency and is central to the daily life of all local residents and businesses.

Labor is committed to ensuring that Lennox Head, Ocean Shores, Pottsville and Uki have access to mobile phone services they need.

All of these locations were overlooked by the Government in Round one of the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

A Shorten Labor Government will fix this.

Stephen Jones said that Labor was committed to improving the handling and administration of the Mobile Black Spot programme across Australia.

We will be matching the Coalitions commitments on mobile black spots and identifying which parts of Australia have missed out.

Under the Governments watch there have been some glaring omissions in the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

We must do more to help rural communities when it comes to mobile black spots; this is vital infrastructure that people rely on.

Justine Elliot said that the announcement would make a huge difference to local communities.

The majority of residents in Pottsville, Lennox Head, Ocean Shores and Uki are totally frustrated with Malcolm Turnbulls failed mobile phone rollout, which means they experience poor mobile coverage at home and at work.

Mr. Turnbulls poor mobile coverage impacts families, students and small businesses in our region.We have a local economy that is dependent on tourism and retail so mobile phone coverage is vital.

This lack of coverage is of particular concern for our elderly who often rely on these connections to stay in touch with family and friends.

The Uki region is in close proximity to Mt Warning, which attracts thousands of tourists each year. This area suffers from little to no coverage bringing with it a whole range of challenging access, business and safetyissues for locals and tourists.

Of the 499 mobile towers funded in Round one of the Mobile Black Spot Programme, as of 4 May 2016 only 21 had been switched on.

The Coalition has over-promised and under-delivered on mobile black spots.