WIT.005.001.1856

23

ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation Victoria --- SouthbankSouthbank M3CABC SouthbankSauthbank Centre 120 Southbank BoulevardBoulevattl SouthbarlkSouthbank VMCVIC 3006 3006 GPO Box 9994 MelboumeMelbourne VIC 3001 Tel. +61+6133 86269626 1600 abo.net.auebc.netau

ABC VICTORIAVICTORIA

AND

VICTORIAN EMERGENCYEMERGENCY SERVICESSERVICES ORGANISATIONS

MEMORANDUM OFOF UNDERSTANDING

EMERGENCY BROADCASTSBROADCASTS ONON ABCABC RADIORADIO

1. Aim

The AustralianAustralian BroadcastingBroadcasting CorporationCorporationin in Victoria andand Victoria'sVictoria's EmergencyEmergency Services Organisations (as listed in clause 3.1 of this Memorandum,Memorandum, and collectivelycollectively referred to as as "Emergency"Emergency Services")Services") will work moremore closely closely togethertogether to provideprovide Emergency Services and other Victorian community departments withwith a reliable and quick facility to communicate messages toto listenerslistenersof ABC Radio.

2. Undertakingby ABC Radio

ABC Radio in in VictoriaVictoria willwill broadcast anan emergencyemergency messagemessage immediately,immediately, repeatedly,repeatedly, for as long as necessary, and to whatever target audience inin any any area as is requested by Victoria's EmergencyEmergency ServicesServices andand who who are are authorisedauthorised byby VictoriaVictoria Police to do so, in order to notify listeners that a significant emergency is occurring occurring in their area.

2.12.1 It is noted that ABC Local Radio broadcasts toto aa maximummaximum ofof aboutabout 2525 -- 3030 percentpercent ofof Victorian people at peak listening times and a very small small number afterafter hours. Emergency ServicesServiceswill will makemake otherother arrangementsarrangementsto to covercover people who will will not not receive emergency broadcasts overover ABC Local Radio.

2.2 The parties to this Memorandum note that it is is a a non-legallynon-legally binding arrangement,arrangement, andand that no no liabilityliability oror other other sanctionssanctions will attach attach to any any departure departure from its aims aims by by any any partyparty.. WIT.005.001.1857

2.3 No other agreements or working arrangements entered into with third persons by the parties will be affected by this Memorandum..Memorandum..

2.4 The parties acknowledge that the ABC's undertakingsundertakings underunder thisthis Memorandum Memorandum will will be subject to the ABC Governing Rules.Rules. "ABC Governing Rules" is a reference to all laws, regulations and ABC Board Board DirectionsDirections regulatingregulating or or otherwise otherwise affecting affecting the the conduct of the ABC, ABC, including including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Corporation Act 1983, 1983, and the ABC's Editorial Policies, accessible at "http://abe.net.au/corp/edpo102.pdf'''http://abc.net.au/corp/edpo102.pdf' or as notified by the ABC from from time time to to time. time.

3. PartiesParties toto these these ArrangementsArrangements

3.1 The followingfollowing Victorian Victorian agencies agencies will participate in the arrangements described in this Memorandum:

Country Fire Authority Department of Sustainability and Environment Environmental Protection Authority Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board Victoria State Emergency Service VicRoads Victoria Police Metropolitan Ambulance Service Rural Ambulance Victoria

33.2.2 The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology through its Victorian Regional Office will also participate in in these these arrangements. arrangements.

3.3 ABC Radio in Victoria covers VictoriaVictoria throughthrough thethe followingfollowingservices:

ABC Radio National Triple J ABC Classic Classic FMFM ABC NewsRadio and ABC Local Radio as follows:follows:

774 ABCABC MelbourneMelbourne (774 AMAM - Melbourne)Melbourne)

ABC BallaratBallarat (l07.9FM-Ballarat)(107.9FM-Ballarat)

ABC Central VictoriaVictoria (91.1FM - Bendigo)

ABC Gippsland (100.7 FM - - Sale) Sale) (828 AMAM LatrobeLatrobe Valley) (720 AMAM Omeo) Omeo) (97.1FM Orbost) (104.9FM Mallacoota) (106.1FM Cann River)River)

ABC Goulburn MurrayMurray (l06.5FM(106.5FM - Wodonga) (97.7FM Shepparton)

2 WIT.005.001.1858

(91.7FM Myrtleford) (89.7FM Bright) (99.7FM Corryong)

ABC Mildura - Swan HillHill(104.3FM Mildura) (97.7FM Swan Hill)

ABC Western VictoriaVictoria (594AM - Horsham) (94.1 Hamilton) (96.9 Portland)Portland) (1602 AMAM - Warrnambool)Wannambool)

and allall services supplied via the Remote AreaArea Broadcasting Satellite System (RABS).

4. MechanismMechanism

ABC Local Local Radio Radio Victoria Victoria is is to to operate operate a a telephone telephone "Hotline" whichwhich can can be be accessed accessed 24 hours hours a day, day, 7 7 seven seven days days a a week, week, by by any any person person authorised authorised by by Emergency Emergency Services. This "hotline" "hotline" will will provide provide ready ready access access to to senior senior and and experienced experienced staff atat ABC Local Local Radio Radio who who are are authorised authorised toto broadcast onon anyany oror allall of thethe Victorian Victorian transmitters operatedoperated byby ABCABC Local Radio. Radio.

5. ServiceService Users ProtocolProtocol

Emergency ServicesServices agreeagree to to use use the the"Hotline" "Hotline"only only forfor oneone oror moremoreof of thethe followingfollowing reasons:

5.1 If aa life or or lives lives is is /arelare in dangerdanger.. 5.2 If there is is the threat of significant property damagedamage.. 5.3 Ifan assessment has been made that an ABC broadcast could reduce the threat of public panic. panic. 5.4 If the use of the service assists Emergency Services in their jobjob..

6. "Hotline""Hotline" Operationaldetails

6.1 In orderorder to provide provide a a very quick quick mechanism mechanism by by which which Emergency Emergency Services Services can communicate messages to to listeners,listeners, ABCABC LocalLocal Radio VictoriaVictoria has has installed at its Southbank CentreCentre MasterMaster Control Control aa telephonetelephone line line which which thethe Victoria Victoria PolicePolice or any any representative representative ofof an Emergency Service authorisedauthorised byby thethe Victoria Police, can use atat anyany time.time. This phone will be be answered answered by a staff member of ABC Radio Radio Master Master Control. Control. That person willwill immediately immediately contact contact a a senior senior member ofof ABC Local Local Radio Radio staffstaff andand ask ask them them to to contact contact the the Emergency Emergency Services callercaller..

6.2 Senior LocalLocal Radio staff willwill immediately immediately respond respond by by contacting contacting the the Emergency ServicesServices caller caller by by telephonetelephone in in orderorder toto receivereceive thethe "Hotline""Hotline" message. Upon Upon confirmation confirmation that the message meets meetsthe requirements of the Service Users Protocol, arrangementswill be made for immediate broadcast of

3 WIT.005.001.1859

the message to to the the Local Local RadioRadio audience,audience, at at any any time timeof ofthe the day day or or night. night. ABCABC staff will discuss discuss with with the the Emergency Emergency Services Services caller caller the the number number of times times the the message willwill be broadcast, atat whatwhat intervals,intervals, onon whatwhat transmitters,transmitters, andand forfor howbow long. InIn aa continuing continuing event, event, the the message message will be be broadcast broadcast until the the authorised authorised Emergency ServicesServices agencyagency cancels cancels it, it, at at which which time time ABCABC RadioRadio willwill advise advise listeners that that the the last last message message has has been broadcast.

6.3 ABC Local Local Radio Radio in inVictoria Victoria undertakes undertakes to tobroadcast broadcast the the message/s.message/so Emergency ServicesServices acceptsaccepts responsibilityresponsibility forfor authorising authorising and training training Emergency Services Services users users of the the system. system.

6.4 Every use ofof the "Hotline" will will be be followed followed up up as as soon soon as as practicable practicable with a a debrief withABC Local LocalRadio and and the the Emergency Emergency Services Services agency(s) agency(s) involved,followed by a written response response to Emergency Services core media sub- committee.

6.5The Emergency Services MediaMedia Sub-committee willwill authorise authorise regular regular practice practice "drills" using using the system, inin whichwhich casecase ABC ABC LocalLocal Radio Radio in in Victoria Victoria willwill broadcast aa timetime pippip signal to indicate that the drill has has been been completed.

6.6 These arrangements will will be reviewed reviewed annually annually through through the the Emergency Emergency Services mediamedia sub-committee.

If thesethese arrangements arrangements are acceptable to your respective agencies, please signsign where indicatedindicated below.

Signed by: The Honourable Honourable Andre Andre Haermeyer Haermeyer MP, MP, Minister for Police Police & Emergency Services on behalf of Victoria'Victoria's s Emergency Services

Signed by: Mr MurrayMurray Green, Green, State State Director, Victoria on on behalf of theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation

Signed by: Mr MarkMarkWilliams, State Director, on on behalf of thethe Bureau Bureau ofof Meteorology,Meteorology, Victoria

Date: Wednesday 4`h 4th FebruaryFebruary 2004

4