Report of the Auditor-GeneralNo. 10 of 2013-14

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Government radio communications

May 2014

To successfully undertake their core activities, emergency service organisations such as police, ambulance and the fire service rely on having access to secure and comprehensive radio networks. An effective radio network could mean the difference between life and death.Even though Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state, in both terms of population and size, it has a number of emergency services radio networks. Over the last twenty years or so, attempts to bring all of the above users onto the same network have been tried, but without success. Since 2005, a Tasmanian Whole of Government (WoG) radio network project has been attempting to bring all four networks together. The potential benefits include rationalising the network, improving service quality and making cost savings. A project team, established within the Department of Police and Emergency Management has implemented two major projects valued at over $29m. The projects were essential upgrades to the existing Tasmania Police/Tasmanian Electricity Supply Industry (TESI) network but would also be compatible with any future WoG network1. However, little progress has been achieved in implementing a WoG network. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has recommended that single WoG digital networks across Australia be established by 20182.

IntroductIon

detaIled audIt conclusIons These audit conclusions are based on criteria that we developed to support the audit’s objective and are aligned to the chapter structure of the full Report.Are existing radio networks performing effectively?Maps that we produced show that the 70 MHz networks give better coverage for Tasmania’s hilly terrain. However, higher frequency networks give better building penetration for signals.Whilst outage information suggests the networks were reliable, we found that the existing networks are not fully effective and efficient because: • The Police/TESI network only operated as a secure digital network in limited

circumstances. The other networks were not secure or confidential.• There were no reliability standards or accurate records for networks other than the

Police/TESI network. • The true cost of operating some networks was unclear. • There were interoperability difficulties between the Police/TESI and the other networks. • There was duplication in management and infrastructure.Is there a strategic approach to providing radio network capacity?There was a lack of strategic planning evident in the current networks. Whilst Tasmania Police prepared businesses cases for its network upgrades, this did not occur with the other networks.The networks comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) requirements at the time of the audit. However, none of the present Tasmanian networks comply with foreshadowed COAG and ACMA requirements.

1 TESI is made up of Hydro Tasmania, Transend Networks and Aurora Energy.2 The way ahead: Timeframes and implementation plans for the 400 MHz band, Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), December 2010.

Is the WoG radio network project effective?In our view, eight years on there has been little real progress in implementing a WoG network. There were fundamental problems with the defined objectives and structure of the WoG project. Unless they are resolved, the project has little prospect of success. A possible solution to alleviate concerns held by the smaller networks would be to set up an independent WoG project team and, if necessary, take this further by establishing a separate entity to take over the existing networks and establish a WoG network.

lIst of recoMMendatIonsThe Report contains the following recommendations.

Rec We RecommeNd thAt …

1… Tasmania Police, Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), Ambulance Tasmania and State Emergency Services (SES) investigate ways of providing secure and confidential radio communications.

2 … TFS and Ambulance Tasmania work together to resolve problems around congestion, particularly during the fire season.

3

• TFS, Ambulance Tasmania, Forestry/Parks and SES set reliability standards and monitor against them

• TFS, Ambulance Tasmania, Forestry/Parks and SES establish a register to record service outages and complaints regarding their networks

• all service and complaint issues are resolved within pre-set targets.

4… until the outcome of the WoG project is complete (and interoperability is achieved), emergency services should investigate and implement methods for further improving interoperability.

5 … duplication of infrastructure be costed and taken into account when considering whether to proceed with the WoG network.

6 … network managers develop and document strategic plans for the management of their radio networks.

7 … network managers produce business cases for all major upgrades.

8… stakeholders involved with the WoG radio project re-engage positively to ensure a solution to the current impasse is achieved in the best interests of the stakeholders and the State as a whole.

9 … the WoG project’s objectives should include meeting entity requirements and the consultant be asked to re-evaluate the revised set of objectives.

10 … the project team become independent from any of the entities involved in the WoG network.

11… government considers the establishment of a separate unit to implement and operate a WoG network if existing stakeholders fail to make significant progress toward an agreed WoG solution.

3 An external consultant was commissioned in 2006 by the WoG project team to provide technical advice and analysis. Subsequent updates were provided in 2010 and 2012.

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For the full report go to: http://www.audit.tas.gov.au/publications/reports-to-parliament/