Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has defended the Coalition's record on plugging mobile phone black spots as he travelled through one of Indi's most notorious drop-out zones on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Joyce made the trip from Beechworth to Wodonga, where mobiles can drop out up to three times, with his National Party candidate Marty Corboy.
"The last Green-Labor-Independent alliance did not deliver one cent for mobile phone towers," Mr Joyce said.
"We have now delivered money to bring new and upgraded mobile phone towers to over 500 (places) and over 5000 black spots.
"That is because we decided to put our shoulder to the wheel and got that outcome.
"One of the biggest beneficiaries has been regional people.
"We want to make sure they can use their mobile phone like someone in the city can use their mobile phone."
Indi MP Cathy McGowan, who was listening into Mr Joyce's press conference, said to his last comment: "Here, here, well said".
Earlier, Ms McGowan had been grilled by a Coalition voter at the Wodonga pre-poll centre for incorrectly taking credit for black spot funding.
Mr Joyce defended his decision to be campaigning in Indi at a time when his locked in a tough fight in his New England electorate with former independent MP Tony Windsor.
"It's really important people clearly understand the choice they are going to make between a Liberal-National government or a Green-Labor-Independent alliance " he said.
"It's the same issue we've got in New England.
"It's a Green-Labor-Independent alliance there and you've got a Green-Labor-Independent alliance down here."