Following the tragedy of the recent Victorian bushfires, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has requested the major telecommunications carriage service providers preserve the voicemail greeting messages of any deceased persons, for the potential comfort of bereaved family members.

The four major mobile telecommunications carriers operating in Australia have agreed to this request. If any member receives a request from a member of the public to provide a voicemail greeting message, confirmation on the legitimacy of that request may be verified with Victorian Police. The Department has agreed to facilitate this process and the contact in the Department is Ian Holley. Ian can be contacted on (02) 6271 1419, or by email at Ian.Holley@dbcde.gov.au

Furthermore, Senator Conroy has asked that sympathetic treatment be extended to those affected by the fires when dealing with billing, credit management and account closure activities.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said the industry was ready and willing to assist the Minister and the Government in helping the bushfire victims.