Telstra announced today that it will enable free calls on more than 15,000 pay phones across the country.
“Telstra Payphones are now free phones for everyone to anywhere in Australia,” said Telstra CEO Andrew Penn in a statement.
“They are an iconic and critical part of our community, and for many Australians, the availability of a payphone is a vital lifeline, especially for those who are vulnerable including the homeless, people who are isolated or someone escaping an unsafe situation.
“That’s why I have taken this decision to make national calls from payphones free, because they play such a critical role in our community particularly in times of need and for those in need.”
As part of the program, all 15,076 Telstra payphones across Australia will be free for local and domestic calls. The only restriction on the calls is a six-hour limit.
According to Telstra, approximately 11 million calls were made from its payphone network last year alone. Interestingly, more than 230,000 of these calls were made to emergency services like LifeLine and 000, thus illustrating how important payphones remain in 2021.
“I have been moved seeing first-hand queues of people waiting in line, to use a payphone to tell their family and friends they’re safe after a bushfire, a cyclone or some other natural disaster has taken the mobile network down.
I can only imagine the relief their families feel knowing their loved one is safe,” Penn said.
“During COVID-related lockdowns, we’ve seen domestic and family violence agencies report a 60 per cent rise in new clients seeking help for the first time, and an increase in abusive behaviours overall. It’s not always easy for people in these situations to use a home phone or their mobile to get help so I hope that making payphone calls free might play a small part in helping them get the assistance they need.”
The move to make all payphones across the country free comes after Telstra previously trialled it in remote Indigenous communities and areas impacted by natural disasters.
Tasmanian Council of Social Services CEO Adrienne Picone said that for Tasmanians living on inadequate incomes, cost can be a significant barrier to maintaining healthy, social engagement.
“It is therefore pleasing to see actions and initiatives which promote social connectedness across the state,” she said. “Payphones play an essential role in our communities connecting Tasmanians with emergency and essential services, support and social networks.”
She expected that Telstra’s decision to remove the requirement to pay for the service will have a huge impact for Tasmanians living on low incomes who don’t have access to mobile phones, landlines or adequate phone credit.
“It will ultimately enable more Tasmanians to seek out the services and support they need,” Picone said.
“COVID-19 crystallised what is truly important in our lives. For many, social connectedness came top of the list. The events of the past 18-months have drawn our attention to the social isolation that many Tasmanians are experiencing, in particular in our rural and remote communities.”
