Re : Allocation of frequencies 433.05 to 434.79 MHz
 
Dear Sir
             As  holder of a current amateur radio license and a user of 420 to 450 MHz including 433.05 to 434.79 MHz I strongly oppose the allocation of  a licence free service to your item 17 column 1 of the section 132 and 135 amendment dated 13th June 1997.
 
The frequencies 433.05 to 434.79 is within a part of our amateur  radio band which is heavily used for repeater inputs, data transfers, [ packet radio] repeater links, general simplex communications and most importantly used by WICEN a registered DISPLAN organisation for training exercises and for emergency communications when needed at crucial times by the community  [BUSHFIRES,FLOODS ETC]. Having an unlicensed  service within an allocated amateur radio band can serve no useful purpose and have the potential to cause lost of lives  during an emergency if a repeater is tied up by unlicensed radio users in which the ACA has  had approved through legislation.
 
Other important items I must point out are - Unlicensed users operating on repeater inputs will of course be retransmitted on the repeater outputs 5 MHz higher which will not be legal and can cause conflicts between licensed amateurs and unlicensed users  which could have undesirable consequences leading to possible Judiciary actions .
 
There is already enough frequency allocations for license fee services  eg 55 MHz ,HF and UHF CB radio services  plus cordless phones and baby alarms in the 30 MHz region. There was absolutely no need to allocate 433MHz  in item 17.
 
As a paying user of the frequencies stated I urge the ACA to remove item 17 immediately and regain some sanity to the Frequency allocations in Australia.
 
Sincerely

Lionel Curling, VK3NM.