THE Federal government is spending $9 million over four years to “build public confidence” in the safety of telecommunications networks.
The move follows public concern over health problems allegedly caused by 5G mobile networks and “misinformation about electromagnetic energy emissions (EME)” (“Hands reflect concern over 5G” The News 26/8/19).
Flinders MP and health Minister Greg Hunt said “new initiatives” included scientific research and public education “building on the existing and long standing EME safety program”.
“The enhanced EME program will make sure all Australians have access to clear, reliable and reputable information so they can take advantage of new technologies like 5G and feel empowered to do so safely,” Mr Hunt said.
“The safety standards for 5G networks are consistent with those applicable to early generations of mobile technology – even though 5G networks typically use radio signals which are lower power and over more tightly targeted areas than earlier generation networks.
“These standards have been developed with expert advice from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, drawing in turn on work by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection and the World Health Organisation.”
The Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said emissions from mobile networks and devices in Australia “typically fall below the regulated limits by factors of a hundred or more”.
He said EME levels from mobile networks were “typically” similar to microwave ovens and baby monitors.
First published in the Western Port Times – 29 January 2020
