Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-02 Daily Xml

Contents

Personal Alert Systems Rebate Scheme

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:43): I have a further supplementary, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: Very briefly.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you. Arising from the original answer, where the minister referred to 3G and so on, in regard to technology, what happens if the 4G network goes down, which has happened on a number of occasions, including the recent outages on the APY lands?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:43): I am a little bit concerned that the Labor Party is buying into this because I think they are participating in the scare campaign that they would love to run into the community.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister will answer the question, if she is allowed to without interruptions.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Thank you, Mr President. I might remind other honourable members that we should be heard in silence and actually be allowed to respond to their questions and not have to continuously be interrupted by them, because that's the way the Labor Party is. All devices have a range of backup measures—

An honourable member interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: All devices have a range of backup measures to ensure that no call will go unanswered in rare instances such as mobile network failure. Backup measures include emergency facilities with backup generators, multiple contact modes in case one fails and the use of the 4G network, which is more reliable than 3G. All devices have a range of backup measures to ensure that no call will go unanswered in rare instances such as a monitoring station failure. Backup measures include emergency facilities with backup generators, multiple contact modes in case one fails and the use of the 4G network, which is now more reliable than 3G.

The allegations that have been made about a risk to South Australians are completely unfounded and completely false. All of these devices have undergone independent assessment and testing to ensure that they are fit for purpose. So I would encourage the Labor Party not to buy into this scare campaign because it is irresponsible.