Emergency phone numbers.

The Australian emergency code of " 000 " to reach  Ambulance/Police/Firebrigade is to be expanded by establishing special additional emergency numbers in each of the states and the two Territories.

132 500 will get help for emergencies that do not involve ambulance/police/fire, but which fall within other state or territory jurisdictions, and there will be a non-emergency number - 131 444 - for people seeking non-emergency information.

This has become necessary because at least half of all 000 calls are not true emergencies and this delays access for others trying to report a real emergency.    In such cases, the 000 operator will quickly refer the caller to the state number - and it is hoped that callers will eventually learn to use the non-emergency number when seeking general information.

There is another problem that seems to have been ignored.   When an emergency number call was established many years ago it was done on a country by country basis.  Unfortunately, an opportunity was missed to establish a world wide emergency phone number that would apply in all parts of the world.

Here in Australia, our 000 competes in the minds of many people with the American 911, because so many of our movies and TV shows are American produced and the American emergency number features prominently.    There have been cases where confused citizens have faced problems seeking help because they have tried to call 911 instead of 000.

It would be a simple matter to use transfer technology to rout 911 calls in this country directly to the 000 operator.    911 would then be a " silent number " - not featured in the phone directory - but at least it would provide assistance to the great number of tourists we welcome annually - who would not be aware of our 000 service.

Something that could be achieved at little cost - and which could save a few lives each year  !