A relatively simple ICT issue has emerged as a major problem in Australia bushfire response.

Different state fire and emergency services operate on different radio networks, and sometimes even different agencies within the same state will operate on different networks.

Community Safety Officer for the Jingellic Rural Fire Service (RFS), Mary Hoodless, is preparing to speak to the bushfire royal commission about the issue.

“There's a lot of border crossings with populations that have been highly impacted by that lack of communication,” she told reporters ahead of this week’s hearings.

“We can only hope coming out of the royal commission, that we do see some improvement.”

The scale of last summer’s bushfires made the necessity of a common radio system clear for many.

“We didn't do a lot about it in years gone by, but it's now time to get that Australia-wide radio net,” says Former NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins.

“Technically it can be done, it's just having the will to do it, having the money to do it.”

Mr Mullins said fires and firefighters rarely crossed state borders in the past, but with longer and fiercer bushfire seasons predicted, cross-border cooperation is crucial.

“What's becoming very clear is that if you have a raging bushfire with fire-generated storms, winds coming in all directions, you need to be able to speak at a tactical level,” Mr Mullins said.

“Firefighting units need to be able to speak to each other so they know what's coming at them.”

NSW RFS says it has used liaison officers to help with cross-border communications.

“Significant work may be required to permanently resolve these issues ranging from the installation of compatible radios in trucks or the reprogramming of existing radio equipment,” it said in a statement.