The NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, the NBN, says it will offer additional support for unmonitored medical alarm users who get connected to the network.
In a statement, the company said: "Under the ‘Unmonitored Medical Alarm Upgrade Offer’, eligible people can obtain an upgraded medical alarm at a discounted price of up to of 80% off the normal price to a maximum of $300 off, from participating alarm suppliers."
It said owners (or carers on their behalf) should register unmonitored medical alarms in NBN Co’s Medical Alarm Register.
"NBN Co will contact registered medical alarm users when their home is ready to be connected to the network. They will get advice about potential compatibility issues with their unmonitored medical alarm and their options to upgrade, or speak to their existing alarm supplier about continuing to use their existing alarm, before their current phone service is switched off."
Labor Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare Catherine King welcomed the company's decision.
In a statement, they said Labor had been asking the NBN Co since 2016 to reconsider its 2015 decision to exclude unmonitored alarms from the medical alarm subsidy scheme.
"The source of concern was that the copper and HFC technology currently being deployed cannot support landline phone services during a power outage," Rowland and King said.
"In comparison, the NBN websites notes with fibre-to-the-premises (FttP) a battery back-up unit could support phone services for up to five hours during a power outage," they said.
"This meant the multi-technology mix presented a higher risk profile for vulnerable, usually elderly, Australians who rely on medical alarms connected to a phone line for their personal well-being and safety."
Rowland and King said it was unclear as to why Communications Minister Mitch Fifield had sat on this known issue for two years.
"The decision to reverse that stance will provide additional comfort and assurance to Australians migrating to the NBN who rely on this equipment," they said.
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