Extensive Telstra mobile tower outages last week must not be allowed to reoccur, according to Member for Moore Shane Love MLA.
Mr Love said he was aware of outages at 11 mobile towers in his electorate last week which meant some residents from Dongara to Morawa and east to Kalannie were without any mobile services for up to seven days.
“When we are so reliant on mobile phone reception, it is difficult to fathom that Telstra do not have the systems in place to detect the outage and get services restored in a timely fashion,” Mr Love added.
“Almost more frustrating than the outage itself was Telstra’s failure to engage with relevant local government authorities and my office.
“We had to work really hard to get even a skerrick of information from them, which is ironic given their business is communication.”
Mr Love said the Port Denison – Dongara community had endured seven days without a mobile service due to a power issue.
“When emergency services volunteers cannot receive a callout following a local emergency, we run the real risk of lives being lost,” Mr Love said.
“And as Port Denison – Dongara has a significant number of elderly persons – double the state average – there were many families on heightened alert as SOS Live Life alarms were
rendered useless without mobile reception.
“Businesses were without eftpos facilities, we know people missed online medical appointments and tourists left the area commenting that reception was better in third
world countries. “
Mr Love has written to Telstra CEO, Vicki Brady to express his concerns with the extent of the outages, the lack of concern shown by Telstra and requesting that Telstra meet with local communities affected by the outages.
“I have also written to the Minister and Shadow Minister for Communications suggesting there needs to be a greater level of knowledge invested in local resources such as electrical contractors, as well as back up parts and equipment,” he said.
“Time and again my office is told that tower restoration is delayed while technicians wait for parts.
“Why is there no inventory of parts?”
Mr Love said those businesses who had contacted his office seeking compensation from Telstra should call 13 2200 and a Case Manager would be assigned. He urged constituents who had any concerns to contact his Dongara office.