[LINK] No cash for phone alert system

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

No cash for phone alert system
Jamie Walker and Natasha Bita
February 16, 2009
Australian IT
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25060102-15306,00.html

The federal Government spent $60 million on early warning for tidal 
waves over the past four years, while cheaper phone alert systems for 
bushfires and floods went unfunded.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday admitted that plans for a 
phone warning system had been "languishing around" and Attorney-General 
Robert McClelland said the Government wanted it in operation as soon 
aspossible.

The tsunami alert system was cranked up after the 2004 Boxing Day waves 
killed hundreds of thousands in South Asia.

Since then, the Eyre Peninsula bushfires claimed nine lives in South 
Australia in 2005, north Queensland towns were devastated by Cylone 
Larry in 2006 and this year by flooding, and the continuing bushfire 
crisis in Victoria became Australia's deadliest natural disaster.

A spokesman for Mr McClelland said the Government was committed to 
giving people access to the best warning systems available. "That's why 
the Rudd Government supports the Australian Tsunami Warning System and 
has worked with the states and territories to fast-track development of 
a Community Emergency Warning System," he said.

"Legislation will be introduced to parliament as quickly as possible so 
that an emergency warning system can be operational as quickly as 
possible. Costs will depend on the final form of systems adopted."

A version of the telephone alert system developed by Telstra -- to 
pepper the phones of those in the path of bushfires, floods and other 
hazards with danger messages -- has been costed at between $20 million 
and $66 million by the company.

Further evidence emerged yesterday to show that the states remained 
split over how to set up the phone warning system, which Mr McClelland 
wants in place for the next bushfire season.

Ms Gillard said there was a commitment to work the problems through "in 
a spirit of determination to getting this done".

The Victorian Government, as early as November 2005, backed Telstra's 
version of the "electronic doorknock".

Western Australia has offered other states free use of its rival 
StateAlert system, and NSW has carried out a feasibility study on yet 
another variant.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan said early warning systems 
had to be tailored to meet the needs of different communities and 
hazards. "I am advised that each jurisdiction is working on the most 
appropriate early warning systems for their communities," he said.

Citing commercial confidentiality, he refused to release any details of 
a feasibility study recently completed for the NSW scheme.

It is understood that covering mobile phones remains a sticking point, 
because it would require all telcos to set aside their own commercial 
interests and provide general access to their networks and infrastructure.

-- 
 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au