The Victorian Government has signed a contract with Telstra Corporation to enhance the national Emergency Alert telephone warning system with world-first technology.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Robert McClelland MP and Acting Victorian Premier Peter Ryan made the announcement today (13 January 2012).

Mr McClelland said Victoria was leading the way by developing technology for a national location-based telephone emergency warning system.

“The Commonwealth Government, along with the Victorian Government, have ensured that this national project will happen by providing funding on behalf of the nation,” Mr McClelland said.

“The current Emergency Alert system provides warnings to landlines and mobile phones based on the customer’s registered service address.

“This new location-based solution will send warnings to mobile phones that are physically in an emergency zone when a disaster strikes.

“I commend the Victorian Government for taking steps towards providing Australia with ground-breaking public safety technology that will help emergency services across the nation to warn communities about life-threatening emergencies,” Mr McClelland said.

Mr Ryan said this new technology had no national or international precedent.

“The Victorian Government has led negotiations with telecommunications carriers on behalf of all States and Territories, and negotiations are continuing with Optus and Vodafone,” Mr Ryan said.

The Location Based Solution is intended to be operational across Australia by November 2012.

“Telstra’s commitment is a major step forward in the development of a national system, and it means that location-based warnings will be delivered on Australia’s largest mobile network,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr McClelland said the current Emergency Alert system had already proven to be an invaluable tool during emergency events since its introduction in 2009.

“The system has been used more than 300 times and has sent over seven million warning messages nationally to Australians at times of disaster,” Mr McClelland said.

Mr Ryan stressed that while the current and soon-to-be upgraded Emergency Alert systems were important, telephone alerts were only one way emergency services agencies could warn a community, and would not be used in all circumstances.

“Communities should not rely solely on receiving a telephone warning,” Mr Ryan said.

“People should also tune in to the radio, check the emergency services website and stay aware of the conditions.”