FARRER MP Sussan Ley has rubbished claims from independent Kevin Mack that her electorate has been short-changed on fixing mobile phone blackspots.
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At the announcement of successful locations for the fourth round of the program at Burrumbuttock on Monday, Ms Ley said Mr Mack was "wrong" on claims Farrer had 13 towers built in 18 years.
Under the government's blackspot program launched in 2015, Farrer has had 14 towers funded to date with another four at Talmalmo, Clare School, Kamarah and Mungo successful in round four.
The MP said a further 18 had been delivered in a previous program titled Networking the Nation which was instigated when John Howard was Prime Minister.
"Like a lot of people who come late to the federal political scene the facts are wrong," Ms Ley said.
"There were 18, I think, towers delivered under 'networking the nation' when I was first the federal member for Farrer.
"There was unfortunately a long gap when Labor was in power and zero towers delivered.
"But with this announcement today we are back up to 18 again and know there is more to be done."
Mr Mack said he was simply "quoting previous statements" made by Ms Ley on mobile towers funded.
"It's got nothing to do with me. I am repeating what she said," Mr Mack said.
"I'm not coming late to an election.
"I'm re-quoting the sitting member's own statements, nothing else."
Government documents provided by Mr Mack showed nine in the first round and three in the second in Farrer compared to 30 and eight in Indi in the same rounds.
The Border Mail was provided with another list which had omitted Lowesdale and Wentworth towers.
Senator Bridget McKenzie joined Ms Ley for the national announcement of round four locations including 54 for NSW.
Victorian locations including multiple sites in Indi will be publicly revealed on Tuesday.
A well-known blackspot between Tangambalanga and Sandy Creek at the intersection of Kiewa East Road and Lockharts Gap Road will be the venue for the media announcement on the successful sites in Indi.
The nearby Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve, which hosts the Tallangatta and District Football-Netball League each year, has had sub-standard mobile phone coverage for years.
"This is part of our commitment made many, many months ago," Senator McKenzie said.
"I don't think you can be serious about representing Australia, be serious about wanting to be an alternative government and not back connectivity of the regions."
Asked whether the Coalition would bankroll a fifth round, Senator McKenzie said: "I am announcing round four.
"It's only a Liberal-Nationals partnership that has the focus on the regions.
"We know Labor has no mobile blackspot program and others who pretend to want to represent rural and regional Australia don't have the capacity to argue for the funds to be set aside."
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