Queensland state election: LNP vow to fix emergency services communications issues

Radio communication issues plaguing Queensland’s emergency services, including those mentioned in the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre, could be resolved if the Opposition wins the election this month.

Opposition Emergency Services spokesman Dale Last. Picture: Evan Morgan

Radio communication issues plaguing Queensland’s emergency services could be resolved if the Opposition wins the election this month.

The LNP has committed to forking out $5 million to start rolling out satellite radio technology for Queensland’s SES, Rural Fire Service, and Queensland Fire Department.

It comes after police radio and signal issues were raised at the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre where two police officers, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, were murdered by religious extremists in December, 2020.

Communication issues were raised at the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre, that claimed the lives of police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.

Radio communication problems will also be probed in the investigation into the death of firefighter Izzy Nash who was killed in an industrial fire at Slacks Creek last year.

Opposition spokesman for Emergency Services Dale Last said satellite communication technology would save lives.

“When disaster strikes, time is everything. Our SES, RFS and QFD first responders do an

extraordinary job, and they need the right tools to respond quickly and effectively,” Mr

Last said.

“Communities in Central and North Queensland still remember the chaos when

Telstra’s network failed during ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013.

“By adopting proven satellite technology, we’re equipping our first responders with

the tools they need to save lives and support isolated communities during

emergencies.”

Queensland emergency services communication largely relies on telco-owned frequencies, which often lose signal in remote areas or black spots, and sometimes go down completely.

Communications issues are expected to feature in an investigation into the death of Queensland firefighter Izzy Nash.

Internationally-acclaimed emergency services trainer and firefighter Shan Raffel said there was also potential to expand the modern satellite technology to be used by all emergency services in the future.

“For responders, the need to communicate is absolutely essential in order to achieve

the best possible outcome – but also because their lives can literally rely on it,” Mr

Raffel said.

“From a command-and-control perspective, satellite technology means essential

operations like rescues can be co-ordinated more efficiently to reduce the risk to both

victims and responders.

“I have been an advocate for improving communications systems for Queensland’s

emergency services for over a decade and this announcement shows that the LNP

has listened and has a plan when it comes to community safety.”

Mr Last said the specifics of what service providers and systems used in the $5 million investment would be guided by those on the frontline officers.

The Wieambilla inquest was told there were major communications issues in the rural region for officers, with both their phone reception and radio transmission quality poor.

There was also confusion from frontline police about which channel to use, as there were three separate channels officers had to switch between.

The Courier-Mail also understands there were radio issues on the day Izzy Nash died while responding to a large industrial fire, and messages may have been garbled or not received at all.

Originally published as Queensland state election: LNP vow to fix emergency services communications issues