TasGRN now live

The Rockliff Liberal Government is getting things done to create a safer Tasmania, with the new $763 million Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN) now ready for operational use.  

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said the TasGRN has brought eight core response agencies onto one unified digital radio network, which is a first in Australia. 

“This is one of the largest infrastructure builds in our State’s history and means we are the first jurisdiction in Australia to have all emergency services operating on a single, secure radio network,” Minister Ellis said. 

“TasGRN has been purpose-built and will be used by Tasmania Police, Ambulance Tasmania, Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania SES, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, TasNetworks and Hydro Tasmania. 

“This new network will significantly enhance our emergency services and government agency communications. 

“TasGRN is secure and will allow our key organisations to better serve the community with fully encrypted voice communications, limiting exposure to criminals covertly accessing the network. 

“It will also increase the safety of our people as each individual radio has a duress button and can be located through GPS tracking.” 

The inquiry into the devastating Dunalley bushfires recommended all emergency response agencies move to an integrated communications technology. 

Previously, different emergency response agencies could not easily talk together in the field, which limited coordination and also posed a risk to community safety. 

Minister Ellis said the project has been a true partnership between the Rockliff Liberal Government, the eight user agencies and Telstra to boost the radio communications reach across the State. 

“The TasGRN team has done an outstanding job delivering this massive project on time and on budget,” he said. 

“It has delivered more than 50 jobs, 138 in-field radio sites, more than 6,500 handheld and in vehicle radios, 23 new radio towers, and improved Telstra coverage and will enable us to add other agencies to the network in the future.” 

User organisations begin using the TasGRN from today and it will be fully operational by November 2023.