The lack of ABC Shortwave radio could have been deadly last week as Tropical Cyclone Trevor hit remote communities and the Gulf.

In the lead up to Cyclone Trevor, Mackerel fisherman Bruce Davey said the lack of shortwave radio left him and his crew without lifesaving information.

They had no idea they were in the path of a cyclone.

Mr Davey told the ABC he feared for his life and shortwave would have certainly helped.

"We haven't got the shortwave radio service anymore so we can't get any ABC radio and there was so much lightning and thunder with the monsoon trough that there was too much static to be able to get BoM [Bureau of Meteorology] on the old HF radio, Mr Davey told the ABC Rural.

The experiences of fishers and those living remotely is a clear reminder why shortwave radio is so important.

Those living and working remotely relied on the shortwave radio for safety and emergency information.

Since the shortwave shutdown in 2017, they have been left in an information void, forced to use unreliable forms of communication to get the information they need.

It was premature to cut ABC shortwave radio services. If the ABC had not been under intense budget constraints from the Abbott - Turnbull Morrison government, this decision would never have been made.

Labor has been campaigning against the ABCs decision to cease shortwave transmissions since it was announced in December 2016.

We know how important shortwave is, thats why we are switching it back on.

By switching the shortwave back on a Shorten Labor Government will ensure, towns, communities and travellers will have access to vital emergency information.

We will be writing to the new Managing Director Ita Buttrose outlining the importance of shortwave radio to Territorians and the commitment that Labor has made.

Labors funding commitment of $2 million to restore ABC shortwave services isin addition to Labors commitment to reverse the Morrison Governments $83.7million unfair cuts to the ABC, as well as our guarantee of stable funding over the next ABC budget cycle.