Election promise will be fulfilled by next wet season

Emergency Communications

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The ARNI emergency communications units will be stationed in 10 FNQ locations and are promised to be on the ground by next wet season. Picture: Supplied

State of the art Airbridge Communications systems announced by Cook MP David Kempton in an election promise before the 2024 state election did not make it on the ground for this wet season, but will be delivered by the LNP Government, Mr Kempton has assured.

The funding and timing are currently being considered by Cabinet along with all the other election commitments across the state, he said.

“Communication is critical both in terms of early warning of weather events and during the recovery process.

“I am confident the units will be secured and put in place well before the next wet season. These are state of the art portable and reliable communication systems of great benefit to may northern communities.”

Pitched on October 10 last year as “a timely, pre-wet season announcement’’, the LNP promised to install 10 emergency communications units from Kuranda to Hopevale if they won government.

Developed by Smithfield-based tech firm AirBridge Networks, the mobile AirBridge Resilient Network Infrastructure units use satellite technology to enable emergency services and community to maintain connectivity when phones, power, and internet goes down during, and after, natural disasters.

AirBridge Networks’ founder and managing director Doug Stephens, a Far North Queensland local, said he and his team were, “taking the absolute best of technology as it exists today and we are putting it into ARNI – in terms of communications, this is regional Australia’s best defence.” 

Mr Kempton said the $1.5m investment would “ensure residents, businesses and emergency workers have the level of reliable connectivity and communication required in times of power outages or mainstream communication failures.’’

“Cyclones and natural disasters are an ongoing part of life in the north,” Mr Kempton said.

‘’The first thing to go is mainstream power and communication, there are stories of people being stuck on roofs, people experiencing medical emergencies, unable to contact loved ones and family, because the phone service and power can be out for days.

“The ARNI is a locally built unit which can be wheeled out after a natural disaster and provides instant communication to hundreds of users. It is fully autonomous and simple to use. They are a very clever piece of kit and are a game changer when it comes to surviving natural disasters.”

 

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