‘Life and death’: Far North MPs lash ABC over decision to cut radio program ahead of cyclone season

Radio silence from the public broadcaster has forced irate Far North MPs to call out cuts to local programming ahead of disaster season, as bushfires blaze across the region.

The ABC has quietly replaced ABC Far North’s Mornings program with networked content from Townsville.

Radio silence from the public broadcaster has forced irate Far North MPs to call out cuts to local programming ahead of disaster season, as bushfires blaze across the region.

ABC Far North Queensland’s once-flagship Mornings program – which garnered awards and plaudits for its coverage of floods, fires and cyclones across decades – was quietly replaced with a networked Townsville program in March.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said he received assurances from senior ABC executives that the program, which previously aired from 9-11 am weekdays, would return prior to the wet season.

On ABC Far North's website, Susan Graham-Ryan is listed as presenting 'Far North Mornings'. Ms Graham-Ryan is based in Townsville. (Supplied.)

But a leaked email obtained by The Cairns Post reveals the broadcaster has already shifted away from the wireless, investing in social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram instead.

“While we are deeply committed to radio programs in Cairns and other regional centres, there is no escaping the ongoing transition in audiences away from live-to-air radio,” regional Queensland editor Sue McVay wrote to Mr Entsch in July.

Ms McVay added, “we must prioritise our resources to deliver this where our audience wants to access it”, pointing to increased engagement on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

In her July correspondence, she said the decision to network the Mornings program from Townsville was “to alleviate pressure on the Cairns bureau” while management sought to fill multiple vacancies.

The Cairns-based program is yet to return to air.

Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch said he will consider taking his complaints to the ABC’s board. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Entsch said he considered the letter a “piss poor response”.

“This is a staple of the region and a vital source of news and content,” he said.

“I’ve contacted them (the ABC) and nothing’s happened. They said they needed to sort their staff out but they never got back to me.

“I thought I’d give them some time to work things out but here we are moving into the next cyclone season.”

Katter’s Australia Party deputy leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said live radio was critical to his communities during natural disasters, including Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto said it was vital to heed the lessons learned during Cyclone Larry in 2007 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

“There were mothers huddled around radios with children in bathrooms as those disasters unfolded,” Mr Dametto said.

“For some people it was just peace of mind. Hearing someone going through the same thing and you’re telling them, ‘It’s going to be okay’.”

An aerial view of luxury yachts and boats at Port Hinchinbrook that bore the brunt of the destructive winds and storm surge during Cyclone Yasi in 2011. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Dametto said he feared the lack of seasoned broadcasters in the region could cost lives.

“It’s imperative that we have local reporting so we get up-to-date information and know what’s going on,” he said.

“You need a real time indication of what’s happening so that people can protect their properties and lives. It’s life and death for some people.

“When you’re a reporter you build relationships with the experienced fire wardens and disaster management crews. They understand the topography. They know when the water will recede or how the land may burn.”

Fires spread through the Silver Valley Road area near Irvinebank. Picture: Brian Cassey

Multiple fires have burned throughout the Far North in recent weeks including in Millstream, Cooktown and Mutchilba.

A large, slow moving fire was currently burning near Irvinebank as of Tuesday evening.

The ABC did not respond to questions from the Cairns Post prior to deadline.

UPDATE

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation spokesperson has responded to questions from the Cairns Post. See below.

“Mornings in FNQ was a networked program hosted from Cairns. When the Cairns-based presenter left we utilised the existing networked Mornings program out of Townsville to cover all markets and used the vacant role in Cairns to create a local field reporter role, producing local audio content for all programs as well as digital stories.

“There was no reduction in headcount in the Cairns office, no loss of local-only programs and we are now doing more local news coverage from that bureau. The audience in Cairns for the Mornings program has increased since the change.

“The FNQ program was not a local-only program. We are now doing more local news coverage from the Cairns bureau than previously and the audience in Cairns for the Mornings program has increased since the change.

“Regarding emergency broadcasting, we are well positioned in Cairns with two full-time locally-based presenters, two full-time locally based producers, another full-time content maker, a part-time producer/presenter and several reporting team members who can both present and produce.

“In addition, we have locally based casual presenters/producers who can be called in. We have full capacity to move to rolling emergency coverage if necessary.”

Originally published as ‘Life and death’: Far North MPs lash ABC over decision to cut radio program ahead of cyclone season