❓ Addresses interoperability issues among emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) due to incompatible communication systems. Initiatives include shared radio channels, a lifeline system, interagency communication plans, and funding for a metropolitan radio network.
AnsweredQoN 1401Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In the telecommunications needs assessment recently released by the Minister for State Development, one of the key findings with regard to communications for emergency services was the inability of the various organisations providing emergency services - police, hospital and ambulance services and local councils - to communicate with each other. A variety of incompatible systems are in use and this restricts the ability to launch a coordinated response during a crisis. In light of these findings, will the minister please enlighten the House as to what is being done to quickly resolve this issue? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
Significant work is being undertaken to improve interoperability and enable emergency response personnel from different agencies/divisions to communicate with each other via their operational radio system. There are a number of shared systems and processes in place. The Western Australian Police Service, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA and the St John Ambulance service have two common emergency radio channels that are interoperable between all three tier one emergency service organisations and subsidiary groups managed by each of those ESOs. The ESOs have agreed to fit the two emergency service frequencies into existing UHF handheld radios or to purchase UHF handheld radios as required. The lifeline system is a single point of contact radio channel available to all ESOs in addition to channels A and B. This allows for other subsidiary agencies such as the Water Corporation and Western Power to remain in contact with the tier one ESOs in the event of a serious emergency situation where all other communication links fail. Emergency operational plans for interagency communication redundancy exist in business processes that have been agreed at the highest level within the State Emergency Management Committee. These operational processes have been tested numerous times with complete success. The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: Significant work is being undertaken to improve interoperability and enable emergency response personnel from different agencies/divisions to communicate with each other via their operational radio system. There are a number of shared systems and processes in place. The Western Australian Police Service, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA and the St John Ambulance service have two common emergency radio channels that are interoperable between all three tier one emergency service organisations and subsidiary groups managed by each of those ESOs. The ESOs have agreed to fit the two emergency service frequencies into existing UHF handheld radios or to purchase UHF handheld radios as required. The lifeline system is a single point of contact radio channel available to all ESOs in addition to channels A and B. This allows for other subsidiary agencies such as the Water Corporation and Western Power to remain in contact with the tier one ESOs in the event of a serious emergency situation where all other communication links fail. Emergency operational plans for interagency communication redundancy exist in business processes that have been agreed at the highest level within the State Emergency Management Committee. These operational processes have been tested numerous times with complete success. The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
Significant work is being undertaken to improve interoperability and enable emergency response personnel from different agencies/divisions to communicate with each other via their operational radio system. There are a number of shared systems and processes in place. The Western Australian Police Service, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA and the St John Ambulance service have two common emergency radio channels that are interoperable between all three tier one emergency service organisations and subsidiary groups managed by each of those ESOs. The ESOs have agreed to fit the two emergency service frequencies into existing UHF handheld radios or to purchase UHF handheld radios as required. The lifeline system is a single point of contact radio channel available to all ESOs in addition to channels A and B. This allows for other subsidiary agencies such as the Water Corporation and Western Power to remain in contact with the tier one ESOs in the event of a serious emergency situation where all other communication links fail. Emergency operational plans for interagency communication redundancy exist in business processes that have been agreed at the highest level within the State Emergency Management Committee. These operational processes have been tested numerous times with complete success. The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: Significant work is being undertaken to improve interoperability and enable emergency response personnel from different agencies/divisions to communicate with each other via their operational radio system. There are a number of shared systems and processes in place. The Western Australian Police Service, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA and the St John Ambulance service have two common emergency radio channels that are interoperable between all three tier one emergency service organisations and subsidiary groups managed by each of those ESOs. The ESOs have agreed to fit the two emergency service frequencies into existing UHF handheld radios or to purchase UHF handheld radios as required. The lifeline system is a single point of contact radio channel available to all ESOs in addition to channels A and B. This allows for other subsidiary agencies such as the Water Corporation and Western Power to remain in contact with the tier one ESOs in the event of a serious emergency situation where all other communication links fail. Emergency operational plans for interagency communication redundancy exist in business processes that have been agreed at the highest level within the State Emergency Management Committee. These operational processes have been tested numerous times with complete success. The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
Significant work is being undertaken to improve interoperability and enable emergency response personnel from different agencies/divisions to communicate with each other via their operational radio system. There are a number of shared systems and processes in place. The Western Australian Police Service, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA and the St John Ambulance service have two common emergency radio channels that are interoperable between all three tier one emergency service organisations and subsidiary groups managed by each of those ESOs. The ESOs have agreed to fit the two emergency service frequencies into existing UHF handheld radios or to purchase UHF handheld radios as required. The lifeline system is a single point of contact radio channel available to all ESOs in addition to channels A and B. This allows for other subsidiary agencies such as the Water Corporation and Western Power to remain in contact with the tier one ESOs in the event of a serious emergency situation where all other communication links fail. Emergency operational plans for interagency communication redundancy exist in business processes that have been agreed at the highest level within the State Emergency Management Committee. These operational processes have been tested numerous times with complete success. The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
The Gallop Government has also funded the emergency services computer aided dispatch and communications services project to provide a metropolitan radio network for both WAPS and FESA. Further to this, FESA is currently reviewing its internal radio network and is investigating the amalgamation of all the emergency response divisions into a single radio frequency band. Nationally, the police and ESOs are lobbying the Australian Communications Authority for frequency spectrum to be allocated specifically for the emergency services. With regard to hospitals, ambulance services and local councils, the member will need to seek this information from the relevant minister.
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