Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly has criticised the government’s delivery of communications infrastructure to the Bega Valley during his first live televised question and answer session on social media.
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Dr Kelly appeared live on Facebook on Thursday to answer a range of questions from users, covering local, state and federal politics.
Rural and regional areas are being screwed over.
- Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly
He answered questions from viewers concerned with regional hospital staffing, fast internet connectivity, and the government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.
“Rural and regional areas are being screwed over,” Dr Kelly said on Friday.
“There’s been an Australian National Audit Office report released on the Mobile Black Spot Program that tells a deeply disturbing story of mismanagement and poor outcomes.”
Dr Kelly said he is concerned 25 per cent of base stations constructed provide no new coverage at all for regional customers.
“I certainly applaud the concept, but it’s a project that is purely political,” he said.
“There was $28million spent on 28 base stations with minimal benefit to consumers.”
The report found there was insufficient attention paid to specific local issues needed to inform the delivery of future rounds of funding.
“We’re just not seeing improvements,” Dr Kelly said.
With regions like the Bega Valley not yet experiencing the full benefits of both the black spot program and the NBN, Dr Kelly said the towers for both programs could and should have been combined.
“Poor administration means it’s turned into a real muddle that’s complicated the system,” he said.
“It’s been a deeply flawed approach to communications.”
Dr Kelly said his foray into the world of social media will be a regular event.
“It’s even more important now that the electorate is bigger than 66 countries in the world with the mountains, snow and ice in the middle,” Dr Kelly said.
“When I’m busy in parliament it allows me to be more accessible to the constituents and I want to encourage people to embrace it and use it as a vehicle to pass on their concerns.”