The state and territory governments are significant users of spectrum, particularly for mobile radio communications for police, fire and ambulance services. The Australian Government uses mobile radio communications particularly for policing, customs and counter-terrorism purposes. There have been many instances where joint operations (both intrastate and interstate) have appeared to be hampered by incompatibilities between the different radio systems in use.

To improve their own efficiencies, state and territory governments have been increasingly rationalising their disparate agency mobile radio systems by implementing "whole-of-government" radio networks. Jurisdictions appear to have experienced various degrees of acceptance and co-operation from their own agencies in migrating to shared networks. While some degree of rationalisation within these jurisdictions has occurred, there has been little co-ordination between them.

The ACMA and its predecessors have made various attempts over the years to try to harmonise spectrum used across Australia for these purposes. The first occasion arose from Cyclone Tracy in December 1974. By the late 1970s a block of 64 UHF channels had been identified in spectrum between 450 and 470 MHz, in an attempt to redress the lack of interoperability among the attending services on that occasion. Today this spectrum is used almost exclusively by the various police services. The early 1990s presented a second opportunity to accommodate this objective, as state governments particularly began moving to whole-of-government mobile radio networks.

Late in 2003 - supported by the Australian Government Minister for Defence, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice and Customs, the State Premiers and the Territory Chief Ministers - the ACA facilitated a new national forum for this purpose (read the letter of invitation). Known as the National Coordinating Committee for Government Radiocommunications (NCCGR), it has the objective of developing and maintaining a national strategic plan for government radiocommunications by a co-ordinated approach among jurisdictions. Objectives include interoperability needs, and the promoting of effective and efficient use of the radiofrequency spectrum by government. All jurisdictions are members, and there are a number of observers/advisers such as Emergency Management Australia, the Department of Defence and the police services representative body. The ACMA is an adviser to the NCCGR. The State of South Australia provides the chair and secretariat services for the committee.

In parallel with the work of the NCCGR, the ACMA has preserved spectrum (Planning Developments: 420-430 MHz Band) in the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan for government related mobile services, and various jurisdictions are taking up this opportunity. Having common spectrum, of itself, does not achieve interoperability (eg, the equipment could still be incompatible). However, common spectrum might assist in the longer term goal of achieving interoperability between essential and emergency services, both intrastate and interstate. Adaptive and software defined radios could also assist, in the longer term.

Internationally, there was an effort to identify harmonised spectrum for Public Protection and Disaster Relief applications that began in 2000 and was considered at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference in 2003. Unfortunately, the ITU was unable to agree on globally harmonised arrangements. This means that individual administrations like Australia need to make their own domestic planning judgements. The arrangements the ACMA is now promoting in Australia are consistent with the ITU outcome for our region.

The ACMA continues to support the work of the NCCGR and is actively assisting governments in current projects for their respective government radio networks. In the longer term, a decision by a body such as the Council of Australian Governments might ultimately be required to achieve interoperability.