Tasmania to spend $850,000 in an interim radio solution

Tasmania's emergency services will soon be able to communicate directly with each other, when required, using their mobile radio networks, thanks to investment by the state government.

Emergency services in Tasmania have long used different radio networks, forcing the use of phones to talk to each other, with all the limitations that this presents.

In a statement, the government acknowledged that it had long known that in a crisis the lack of a whole-of-government approach to emergency services communications can present serious difficulties, a need which was highlighted by the 2013 Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry.

The more recent Tasmanian Audit Office Report into Government Radio Communications also highlighted the current shortcomings.

While the development of a whole-of-government radio network is underway, the significant work involved means it is still some time off.

The Tasmanian government has therefore decided to invest around $850,000 in an interim solution, an Interoperability Gateway that will link Ambulance Tasmania and the Tasmania Fire Service with the Trunk Mobile Radio Network (TMRN).

The TMRN is used by Tasmania Police, the State Emergency Service and Tasmanian electricity entities.

Work to install the Gateway will commence immediately with the aim of having the new arrangements in place during the coming summer.

The government said that while this is an interim measure, it will enable emergency services to talk directly with each other using their mobile radio networks which, in a crisis or disaster, will help keep emergency workers and volunteers, and the wider community, safer.