Key Takeaways
- Angus Taylor, opposition leader, supports Liberal senator Sarah Henderson’s triple-zero calls.
- South Australian police have no record of a death related to the Telstra outage.
- Kerrynne Liddle claims an elderly person died due to the outage but South Australian police refute this.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has defended Liberal senator Sarah Henderson’s decision to make unnecessary triple-zero calls during a nationwide Telstra outage, stating that she was 'doing her job.'
In response to concerns raised by Kerrynne Liddle, who claimed an elderly person died as a result of the outage on Wednesday, Mr Taylor dismissed these allegations. South Australian police have not reported any such death.
Ms Liddle’s office stated they had advised the family involved to inform the police about the incident, but no record exists in official reports.
The Telstra outage affected millions across Australia, causing widespread disruption and frustration among users of the triple-zero emergency service. Ms Henderson made several calls as part of a test to ensure the system was functioning correctly during the outage.
Mr Taylor emphasized that such tests are necessary for maintaining public confidence in emergency services. He stated, 'We need to ensure our systems are robust and reliable, even under challenging circumstances.'
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about the reliability of Australia’s emergency communication networks. Critics argue that making unnecessary calls during a service outage could potentially impact genuine emergencies.
In a statement, Ms Liddle’s office said, 'Our advice was given in good faith to ensure all necessary steps were taken,' but South Australian police have not confirmed any such incident.
The situation has sparked debate among political and emergency services experts about the balance between testing systems and ensuring public safety during critical incidents.
'We need to ensure our systems are robust and reliable, even under challenging circumstances.'
Angus Taylor, Opposition Leader
'Our advice was given in good faith to ensure all necessary steps were taken,'
Kerrynne Liddle’s office, Liberal Senator's Office
