Mobile broadcasting assets to backup local radio during natural disasters and power outages

The Albanese Government is strengthening vital broadcasting infrastructure that can be deployed rapidly during natural disasters and emergencies to help keep communities safer, connected and informed.

The Government’s $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Program (BRP) has already provided emergency power backup batteries and upgraded satellite inputs to 98 ABC AM and FM radio sites across Australia used for emergency broadcasting.
 
The BRP is also funding five mobile broadcast assets (MBAs) that can be transported to affected sites at short notice in the event transmission fails, including during power outages caused by severe weather.
 
The MBAs also serve as a power supply to charge essential devices such as mobile phones, enabling people to access vital services and keep in touch with loved ones during emergencies.
 
The MBAs will be housed at five strategic locations around the country: 

  • Bald Hills (Brisbane), serving south eastern Queensland and north eastern New South Wales;
  • Gungahlin (Canberra), serving the Australian Capital Territory, southern NSW and eastern Victoria;
  • Hamersley (Perth), serving Western Australia;
  • Mt Bellenden-Ker (northern Queensland), serving northern Queensland and the Northern Territory; and
  • Pimpala (Adelaide), serving South Australia and western Victoria.

The sites were chosen by BAI based on previous natural disasters, ease of access to the region and the ability to service and store units between events.
 
The BRP is improving the resilience of broadcast transmission infrastructure used for emergency broadcasting, supporting ABC services and commercial broadcasters co-located on site.
 
These upgrades have already kept ABC local radio services running for hundreds of hours during emergency events.
 
The BRP is part of the Albanese Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, which includes $400 million to improve mobile coverage and increase the resilience of communications services across Australia.
 
For more information on the Plan, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/better-connectivity-plan-regional-and-rural-australia 
 
For more information on the BRP, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/better-connectivity-plan-regional-and-rural-australia/broadcasting-resilience-program 
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
 
“The safety of Australians is the Albanese Government’s number one priority. 
 
“During natural disasters and emergencies, access to timely and accurate information can mean the difference between life and death. 
 
“The Broadcasting Resilience Program has already upgraded 98 ABC broadcasting sites around Australia.
 
“As part of the BRP, five new mobile broadcast assets will also be available for rapid deployment to disaster-struck areas when emergency broadcasting transmission fails.
 
“This will help even more communities around Australia stay safe, connected and informed should disaster strike.”