INTERVIEW - ABC AM - 8.10am
12 February 2009
TOPICS: Community Emergency Warning System
ROBERT McCLELLAND: It's been before the federal government now since about 2004. What the issues have been are to ensure that the system wouldn't crash, in other words that you wouldn't dislocate the normal emergency phone line, but it's also been necessary to get the states on board.
The - a lot of work's been done. The legislation is ready to go and it is an important system.
REPORTER: Is it regrettable that it hasn't been put in place now?
ROBERT McCLELLAND: Well, every system that potentially would be available would be a good thing to have in place. There's no doubt about that and that's why the Rudd Government has really driven this issue hard.
REPORTER: But you say potentially available, Attorney-General, even though there has been a change of government and it's been more than a year now since your government was elected, the fact that it's been on the books for such a long time, most people would seem to think, well, why hasn't it been implemented, why are you still wrangling with the states?
ROBERT McCLELLAND: Well, in fact, I reported, when I was in opposition, after visiting Hawaii where I saw their emergency warning system in operation, I reported that I believed there was a need for a warning system then so I mean clearly - clearly it is desirable not only from an emergency point of view but from a counter-terrorism point of view, from a crime point of view, for instance, in respect of Port Arthur. Clearly a warning system would be useful in respect to all those events and that is why it has been a real priority for the Rudd Government.
Ends
