The Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) provides funding for telecommunications infrastructure to improve handheld mobile coverage across regional and remote Australia. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts administers the program on behalf of the Australian Government.

During the 2022 federal election campaign, the Australian Labor Party announced commitments to improve mobile coverage and quality of service across target locations. Round six of the MBSP, also referred to as Improving Mobile Coverage Round (IMCR), was designed to deliver these election commitments and allocated $40 million in the 2022–23 October Budget.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the design and award of funding for round six of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

To form a conclusion against the objective, the following criteria were applied:

• Was the design of round six of the Mobile Black Spot Program effective and consistent with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines?
• Were round six applications assessed in accordance with the approach set out in the grant opportunity guidelines?
• Were round six funding decisions informed by clear advice and consistent with the grant opportunity guidelines?

Key findings:

• The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts was largely effective in the design and award of funding for the IMCR.
• The Department advised the government on potential mobile coverage and quality of service issues at 54 target locations, but did not advise the government on the relative merits of prioritising these target locations over other mobile black spots. The Department does not maintain data that enables it to undertake strategic analysis of priority areas across Australia to direct government investment in delivering new and improved mobile coverage.
• The Department complied with relevant frameworks during the funding approval process and provided clear and accurate advice to the decision-maker. The minister, as the decision-maker, complied with relevant frameworks when awarding grant funding and in recording their decisions.