Tasmania's emergency services can now communicate with each other

An Interoperability Gateway connecting the radio networks used by Tasmania Police and emergency services, allowing direct radios communications when required, is now operational.

The need for this was made clear in the 2013 Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry, while a Tasmanian Audit Office Report into Government Radio Communications also highlighted the previous shortcomings.

Thanks to the Interoperability Gateway, police, ambulance, fire and SES personnel around the state can now exchange on-scene operational information in real time, rather than using mobile phones to talk to each other in emergencies.

The $500,000 Interoperability Gateway solution was developed by Ericsson and partner Harris Corporation to provide mobile radio connectivity between the radio networks used by police, fire and ambulance services.

The Gateway will also be used by the State Emergency Service, TasNetworks, Hydro Tasmania, the Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Tasmania.

Work is continuing on a common radio network for police and emergency services and other government radio users.