LOCALS ABANDONED IN NEW EMERGENCY WARNINGS

09-June-2009

Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Liberal Member for Indi today questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s national emergency warning system (NEWS) in times of bushfire threat.

 “I welcome the news that the Federal Government will work with the State Governments to develop an early warning system for bushfire threat, but I am concerned that a text messaging system will be ineffective for many parts of the electorate that have no mobile telephone reception.”

 “One of the main messages coming from people in the region who have been affected by the recent bushfires is that they needed an earlier warning in order for them to make the decision to stay to defend their homes or to go. I agree that people need plenty of warning when a bushfire is approaching, especially if they are planning to leave their home,” Mrs Mirabella said.

 “I am concerned however, that the Federal Government appears to be forgetting those who live in an area with no mobile coverage.”

 “It’s the people in isolated areas who need the early warning but, because they live in isolated areas many of them can’t receive text messages,” Mrs Mirabella said.

 “Although there have been significant improvements in mobile phone coverage over the last ten years in the North-East, I know there are many parts of the electorate who have zero mobile telephone reception.”

 “The message from the Government continues to be that they won’t do anything to fix this problem, despite their promise that local people wouldn’t be disadvantaged under Telstra’s NextG network. Now coverage is worse than under CDMA and I have written to the Communications Minister on a number of occasions to highlight this issue,” Mrs Mirabella said.

 “My office has been inundated with letters from concerned local people, who all report a decrease in service since the switch over from CDMA.”

 “I urge the Government to fulfil its promise and hold Telstra to its guarantee that local people will not be disadvantaged under the NextG network as a matter of urgency,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.