QLD GOVERNMENT SIGNS EMERGENCY WARNING AGREEMENT WITH ABC

A new agreement between the Queensland Government and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will deliver early public warnings about significant emergencies affecting Queenslanders, Premier Peter Beattie said today.

Mr Beattie said the Agreement and Protocol meant a more coordinated Government approach to deliver public warnings quickly in times of emergency – be it a natural disaster, public health risk or terrorism situation.

“We learned many lessons out of the devastation of Cyclone Larry and the threat of a tsunami hitting Australian shores earlier this year,” Mr Beattie said.

“While the Queensland Department of Emergency Services has had a similar agreement in place with the ABC for sometime, this new, broader Agreement recognises the response to emergency situations can occur across government.

“Authorised representatives from a range of Queensland Government agencies – including Health, Police and Emergency Services and the Department of Premier and Cabinet - can now call a dedicated 24-hour ABC hotline to deliver urgent public warnings for broadcast on ABC radio.

“The ABC’s extensive network will allow targeted warnings to be broadcast to affected areas of Queensland, whether it’s statewide, the coastal strip or individual communities.

“While the Government will continue to work with all media outlets in times of emergency, this new agreement builds on our excellent partnership with the ABC and will help protect the lives and properties of Queenslanders,” he said.

ABC State Director Chris Wordsworth said the agreement reinforced the essential role the ABC plays in local Queensland communities.

“The ABC will work with Police, Emergency Services, Queensland Health and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to make this new system work,’’ Mr Wordsworth said.

“Under this agreement, senior officers within the Queensland Government will be able to contact the ABC, via a dedicated number, to activate immediate emergency broadcasts. Full 24-hour response arrangements are in place and in the majority of cases, we will be able to have emergency information to the public within 15 minutes,” he said.

Wednesday, 8 August 2007