Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I would like to thank the thousands of first responders and volunteers who do so much for Australia and Australians at our times of need. Without them, we would be in a very, very different place. Right now, we have the floods in New South Wales. First responders have received over 5,000 calls and have assisted in over 140 rescues through this period.

We know that increased connectivity can save lives. Because of our Mobile Black Spot Program alone, which we've rolled out since coming to government, nearly 68,000 calls have been made by regional Australians to triple 0—calls that otherwise wouldn't have been able to be made. That's real evidence that we're helping save lives and livelihoods. Our government is delivering over $37 million to prevent, mitigate and manage telecommunications outages in natural disasters through our STAND program that extends the battery back-up to our Mobile Black Spot Program. Better communications for our rural and country fire service depots and evacuation centres is one way we can say thank you to our first responders. (Time expired)