Telstra offers relief package for flood victims

The carrier, which is diverting some 130 network engineers to the disaster zone to fix broken lines, is now offering Telstra customers that temporarily lose service free call diversion from their fixed service to a fixed or mobile service of their choice - with resulting mobile calls charged at home fixed line prices.

In addition, Telstra will waive monthly service fees on the originating Telstra fixed service - including line rental, rental phone, and network services such as Messagebank, for up to three months from the date of the disaster.

Telstra pre-paid and post-paid mobile customers who do not have a fixed line are being offered a 30 per cent discount to the value of $50.00 (limited to one mobile phone per household or business).

Telstra will also offer additional discounts for those customers whose homes are damaged beyond repair in the flooding.

Telstra customers unable to return to their homes will be offered a penalty-free cancellation of their fixed phone service, BigPond broadband or Foxtel Pay TV at their existing premises, plus free reconnection at one new premise within 12 months.

Telstra Country Wide general manager for NSW North Coast Sue Passmore said Telstra's core network has "held up well," the biggest impact being caused by a loss of power.

"One of the biggest issues we're facing is the damage caused by flood water," Passmore said.

"In some cases we simply cannot gain access to sites to repair damage and will have to wait for flood waters to recede so we can safely access some parts of the network."

Affected customers are encouraged to call 13 22 03.

The carrier has also released a list of telephone number prefixes which determines which customers are eligible for the relief