Telstra Outage Prevents Multiple Triple Zero Calls in Queensland

Queensland police confirmed multiple emergency calls across the state failed to connect to Triple Zero (000) during the nationwide Telstra outage.

The major network failure cut mobile phone and data access for millions of Australians, disrupted payment terminals and brought some interstate passenger trains to a standstill on Wednesday.

Telstra said more than 300 Triple-Zero calls were affected across the country due to a critical software defect in its data centres.

Queensland police identified 21 people who attempted to call for help but were unable to get through since Wednesday morning.

Superintendent Brook Dwyer said "every single person" has since been contacted.

Of the failed calls, police said seven were accidental and one person no longer required assistance.

Five callers needed the Queensland Ambulance Service, but someone else had already contacted emergency services on their behalf.

Emergency services were initially unable to locate one caller, but later tracked their phone and confirmed they were holidaying in Victoria.

"We actually had seven matters where we couldn't get in touch with the persons so we sent police cars to all of those people," Superintendent Dwyer said.

She said Telstra had advised police that anyone who could not get through to Triple Zero should try calling again, with second attempts successfully connecting.

Similar welfare checks were carried out across the country following failed Triple-Zero calls during the outage.

Investigations into the impact of the outage on emergency services were continuing.