The Turnbull Government has announced an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the provision of the Triple Zero Emergency Call Service, an important step in ensuring Triple Zero remains a highly-trusted and reliable service for all Australians when they need  to request emergency assistance.

The announcement follows the Review of the National Triple Zero (000) Operator, which concluded with the release of a public report and implementation plan earlier this year.

Australians’ expectations regarding emergency assistance have changed since Triple Zero was introduced as a voice-only service in 1961, when fixed-line telephones were the primary means of communication. Today, the majority of calls to Triple Zero come from  mobile phones, and the rapid  development of new technologies has enabled a range of new communications options.

The EOI process is the latest step in ensuring all Australians have access to a world-class service which can keep pace with new and innovative technologies.

The Department of Communications and the Arts is also conducting a separate EOI process seeking technology solutions to enable accurate location-based data for emergency calls made from mobile phones, with submissions due by 14 October 2016.

The Review of the National Triple Zero Operator had a specific focus on ensuring the Triple Zero service could keep pace with technological advancements and respond to changing consumer expectations. The outcomes of the review strongly supported the Emergency Call  Service being transitioned  to an IP-based environment, which will offer greater flexibility and opportunities to enhance existing functionality.

The EOI documents for the supply of the Triple Zero Emergency Call Service are available atwww.tenders.gov.au.