BUSHFIRE ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
207. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the discontinuation of
the Emergency AUS app that provided real-time bushfire alert notifications and
was used by many regional residents and brigades.
(1) Has the minister received
requests for a replacement of the app?
(2) Is the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services developing or investing in a mobile
app to provide real-time bushfire alerts and notifications to residents and
brigades?
(3) If yes to
(2), when will it be available?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) If no to (2),
what alternatives does the minister suggest to ensure that people receive fast
and firsthand notifications on nearby bushfires?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. Members
of the community have written to Department of Fire and Emergency Services and
the minister inquiring about plans for a replacement for the defunct Emergency
AUS App.
Note: The Emergency AUS app was
created by Ripe Intelligence, a private company that was contracted by the
South Australian government to provide a platform for its public emergency
information. The app was developed as a 'value add' under that
contract and provided free nationally. It worked by taking a direct feed from
the state-based alerts and warning systems and distributed information to the
community. Unfortunately, in December 2017 and January 2018, the app
experienced two high-profile outages during extremely large and dangerous
bushfires within the state. These outages occurred during times of significant
public demand and internet traffic. The app's failures led to the South
Australian government cancelling the Alert SA contract and pursuing legal
action. The app was then removed from distribution by Ripe Intelligence.
(2) It will not be made available.
(3) Not applicable.
(4)–(5)
The department is investigating options for an opt-in notification system for
alerts and warnings as part of phase 2 of EmergencyWA. In Western Australia,
information and alerts about emergency incidents are published on the
EmergencyWA website at www.emergency.wa.gov.au. EmergencyWA was developed to be
user-friendly on mobile devices. Incidents reported to the 000 phone number are
published automatically and immediately to EmergencyWA. When there is a possible
threat to lives and property, warnings with detailed information are provided
about what action is required by the community. The community is advised to
avail itself of a variety of information sources, in order to avoid any
over-reliance on a single source or disruptions such as power outages,
including the DFES Facebook and Twitter sites, or the 13 33 37 DFES line, and
local ABC radio, to stay up to date during emergencies, and is encouraged to
stay aware of their immediate surroundings and conditions in their areas.