You won’t need to scramble for loose change to use a payphone, with Telstra making calls from payphones free.
Telstra announced last week that it’s network of more than 15,000 phones would be free right across the country, to make local or national calls to a standard fixed line or a call to an Australian mobile,
In the past year, about 11 million phone calls were made from Telstra payphones, including more than 230,000 calls to critical services like triple-0 and Lifeline.
Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said the decision meant everyone could now use payphones to make a free call when they needed to.
“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 vulnerable including the homeless, people who are isolated or someone escaping an unsafe situation,” he said.
“They play such a critical role in our community, particularly in times of need and for those in need.
“I have been moved seeing firsthand queues of people waiting in line, to use a payphone to tell their family and friends they’re safe… I can only imagine the relief their families feel knowing their loved one is safe.”
The Salvation Army’s Major Brendan Nottle welcomed the news saying this was a game changer for many people across the nation.
