Bob Cameron, the Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister, has confirmed that the federal government has zeroed in on Telstra for building a new $15 million national warning system. In the somewhat antagonistic tender process for the Victorian chapter of the system, which would be completed by October-end, Telstra beat its closest rival Optus.

The telephony-based national warning system will send text alerts Australians whenever there is a life-threatening emergency, particularly bushfires - which claimed as many as 170 lives in Victoria in February this year.

Furthermore, in the event of catastrophes, like Black Saturday, the system will help deliver recorded voice warnings to landlines and text messages to mobile phones, based on the billing addresses of the users.

In addition, going by the information in the tender documents, the warning system can also be used to alert the people about disease epidemics, sieges, cyclones, terrorist attacks, heat, smog, and locust plagues.

Noting that the warning system will be ready in time for the next bushfire season - which, as per experts, will be worse than the last season - Cameron said: "We wanted a system in place for this fire season. This system will provide emergency service authorities with another way to warn communities in the event of an emergency and in Victoria will complement the actions our government is taking to better protect Victorians from bushfires."