ABC emergency warnings were broadcast ‘as soon as notified’

The ABC issued an emergency warning alert for the Tathra fire “as soon as it was notified’’.

The ABC says it issued an emergency warning alert for the Tathra fire “as soon as” it was notified. Picture: AAP.

The ABC issued an emergency warning alert for the Tathra fire “as soon as” it was notified by the NSW Rural Fire Service on Sunday afternoon, the national broadcaster said yesterday.

A small number of residents criticised the ABC for continuing to broadcast a rugby league game during the bushfire emergency, which claimed 69 houses.

The ABC’s role as emergency broadcaster is legislated. The national broadcaster said it switched its bushfire coverage on South East Radio to emergency warning alerts broadcast every 15 minutes when the Rural Fire Service issued its first emergency warning alert at 3.37pm. Earlier, the ABC had broadcast “watch and act” alerts every 30 minutes after the Rural Fire Service issued its first watch and act alert for the Reedy Swamp fire near Tathra at 2.08pm.

“The ABC takes its emergency broadcasting responsibilities very seriously,” an ABC spokesman said. “On Sunday, the ABC’s Emergency Broadcast team was in close contact with the Rural Fire Service throughout the day as a number of fires flared up in the Tathra region.’’

Some listeners criticised the ABC for continuing to broadcast a rugby league match between Manly and Parramatta while bushfires raged.

Joshua Shoobridge, who lives in nearby Kalaru, told The Australian he turned on south coast ABC 810AM to hear updates of the fire. “It was ridiculous. They were playing the football, every now and then they’d say there’s a fire, but that’s all people wanted to hear. I don’t really give a crap about Manly on the best of days.”

David Nicholls wrote on the ABC South East NSW Facebook page: “Right now, parts of the Tathra area are being badly affected by bushfires. Thirty minute updates are a rather feeble response. Is the football from Sydney your highest priority?”

His criticism was echoed by David Menzies, who wrote: ­“Really, broadcasting NRL when there are numerous wildfires in the heartland of your listeners.”

The ABC said it acted immediately after receiving notification from the RFS. “As soon as the Rural Fire Service issued an emergency warning at 3.37pm, that warning was put to air on the ABC’s local radio network and repeated every 15 minutes,” a spokesman said. “Warnings were also broadcast every 15 minutes on its streaming service and across ­social media platforms. These warnings were supplemented by interviews with representatives of the local community, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Rural Fire Service.’’

Bushfire alerts issued by authorities have three broad categories, increasing in urgency. But Rural Fire Service advice warns that this order is not always adhered to, due to the fast changing nature of emergencies. “Don’t expect warnings to be issued in any particular order — the first you hear about could be an emergency warning,” the RFS advises.