I have spoken in this House many times about the issues my electorate faces due to the years of neglect under the previous Coalition State and Federal governments. While approving and overseeing the expansion of urban sprawl into areas like Austral, Denham Court and Leppington, they failed to ensure that these new suburbs have access to adequate services and infrastructure. The former Liberal‑Nationals Government was happy to collect an expanding stamp duty and contributions take, but it was not so keen on ensuring expanding services. The delivery of schools, public transport and roads, open space and health services was neglected, and it is this Government that is getting on with the job of fixing that.

I have been vocal in previous years about significant delays in the delivery of waste and portable water to my electorate and the flow‑on effects this has for local businesses and residents. There are subdivisions in Austral with pump‑out sewerage systems that, despite the refusal of council, were later approved by the Land and Environment Court. Gough Whitlam expanded sewerage to the suburb some 50 years ago and in some ways it feels like we have gone back in time, to subdivisions without access to sewerage systems. Decent mobile phone services are also sadly lacking. This was brought to my attention recently by an anonymous Facebook post on a local community group page. It read: "Can we do something about the reception in Austral? I experienced domestic violence last night. I needed to call police and it wouldn't ring, which is beyond a joke. I need help and can't even ask for it, due to zero reception."

I am still in the process of establishing whether this call was to the emergency 000 number, which should have worked regardless of network coverage. I urge anyone who is experiencing a domestic, family or sexual violence emergency to dial 000. According to the NSW Digital Connectivity Index, the suburbs in my electorate have a lower connectivity score than the New South Wales average. The index indicates the ability of a user to utilise digital services by measuring access, affordability and demographics. The score is essentially a measure of the quality and effectiveness of digital connectivity in a selected area. It indicates the capability of a location to support various digital activities, such as remote work, online learning or mobile internet usage. For eight suburbs in my electorate, the average connectivity score is 38.3; the State connectivity average is 55. Some suburbs are in the low twenties and parts of one suburb score as low as 18. This is classified as a "Poor" rating, which the index describes as "highly unlikely to be able to meaningfully conduct digital activities such as working from home, video conferencing, gaming and online streaming.

The number of homes with landlines has dropped over the past 10 years and will continue to drop as mobile services become omnipresent. The ubiquitous mobile is for many the sole means of making a phone call, not just for a regular chat but for work, health and emergencies. It is a reasonable and fundamental expectation of those moving into rapidly growing suburbs like the ones in my electorate that their mobile phone carrier is able to provide adequate, reliable and consistent mobile phone service in their homes.

I note that the Federal Government has introduced a grants program to provide funding to improve mobile connectivity in bushfire priority areas. The Peri-Urban Mobile Program seeks to connect the fringes of our city. I have written to the Minister and mobile providers seeking answers on this specific issue and a general update on the rollout of mobile services in my urban fringe. Suburbs on the fringe of Sydney are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for what everyone else gets and takes for granted—a toilet that flushes in the metro sewerage system, access to public schools, access to a local park, a functioning public transport system and that in an emergency, where their own or a family member's life is at risk, they will be able to pick up the phone and get through to emergency services.