Communities are being left in the dark due to the fragile nature of existing emergency messaging services, with the Government’s proposed National Messaging System now more than three years behind schedule.

Federal Nationals Senator for New South Wales, and Shadow Minister for Emergency Management, Fisheries and Forestry, and Water, Ross Cadell, shared his own experience during a Senate Inquiry on Tuesday, describing how the majority of his household received a warning regarding an emergency bushfire at Lake Macquarie, though his device didn’t receive the same message.

“In this scenario the bushfire threat eased and didn’t require our family to evacuate but did show the fragility of the existing system,” Cadell said.

“A well designed and thoroughly tested National Messaging System is necessary to ensure everyday Australians receive the information they need when they need it.

“We need this system now, not in three years times.

Earlier this year, Senator Cadell pressed officials a NEMA over the proposed national system and whether it could fall victim to similar outages experienced by the 000 network this year. At the time, officials told the hearing the system “does rely on the telecommunications networks.”

“Australians need a system they can trust will be there when they need it most, not just when the Government wants a photo opportunity,” Cadell said.