Victoria’s Triple-Zero Operator Putting Lives At Risk With Outdated Tech

Put it to pasture


Article heading image for Victoria’s Triple-Zero Operator Putting Lives At Risk With Outdated Tech

Supplied

Victoria's Triple-Zero Operator has been found to be out-of-date.

A damning report into the state's Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority (ESTA) discovered a worst-case scenario failure could result in the deaths of at least 18 people a day.

The critical link between Victorians and the state’s emergency services agencies, ESTA deliver 24-hour emergency call-taking and dispatch services for police, fire, ambulance, and SES.

An inside scoop suggests the organisations computer system is 25 years old and like any tech that obsolete suffers glitches daily.

Danny Hill from Ambulance Victoria said the call centre operator has been dragging its feet on a major system upgrade since 2017.

"This problem was identified some time ago. There was review in September 2018 that said that there could be significant loss of life if it crashes and they still haven't been able to get it right"

- Danny Hill

Its also understood that months of lockdowns leading to delayed medical appointments, has added greater pressure on the service.

Join Tom Tilley with regular rotating co-hosts Jan Fran, Annika Smethurst and Jamila Rizvi on The Briefing, Monday - Saturday, for the day's headlines and breaking news as well as hot topics and interviews. Available on Listnr.

Triple M Newsroom

24 June 2021

Article by:

Triple M Newsroom




Listen Live!

Up Next