California's extreme wildfires are a stark reminder of the crucial role the ABC plays in keeping us safe.
Image: ABC
California’s current wildfires are abnormal in severity. More than a regional disaster, they are a global wake-up call to the impacts of climate change. They're also a reminder of how lucky Australia is to have a public broadcaster dedicated to keeping communities safe in climate emergencies.
During the wildfires’ first week, California’s broadcast stations saw viewership double and even triple, with more than one million watching in prime time.
While other emergency systems experienced failure with disastrous consequences, public broadcasters provided reliable information in a time of confusion. Local and national media outlets proved essential to community safety through supplying residents with real-time updates, preventing the loss of lives.
In Australia, ABC Emergency protects communities against disasters - as demonstrated by the 2019-20 bushfires.
As climate crises increase in frequency and severity, the need for reliable emergency information is more important than ever.
While technological innovations, such as Australia’s National Messaging System, are emerging to protect communities, no technological development can replace the fundamental role of our public broadcaster in an emergency.
As a non-profit public broadcaster, the ABC provides trusted and dependable information during, before, and after disasters through community service announcements (CSAs) that are constantly updated in real-time.
The announcements are often delivered via satellite to achieve broad-reaching transmission. By contrast, digital platforms, such as social media and websites, are often less reliable in disasters. This is especially important for Australia’s most vulnerable communities, who are generally located in remote areas and who rely on radio broadcasts in emergencies. CSAs are also broadcast in local Indigenous languages where appropriate, increasing their impact across isolated communities.
ABC Emergency is an essential service for all Australians, but it needs to be properly funded to meet escalating demand.
The costs of providing emergency service broadcasts have skyrocketed in recent years as the number of climate crises has increased. But between 2014 and 2022 the ABC’s operating grant was slashed.
In 2011, the ABC's division ran for around six months of the year. It now runs all year-round to meet increased emergency demands.
In 2017-2018 the ABC handled around 251 emergency broadcasts. In 2023-24, that number rose to 659 – and it continues to rise.
The ABC's disaster management service can only function effectively with the right capacities, resources, and tools.
That's why in this election, ABC Friends is calling on all candidates and political parties to support the establishment of a supplementary fund, indexed annually to the number of active climate events, to meet the full costs of the ABC’s emergency service.
"We must guarantee all Australians can receive this vital service – it could mean the difference between life and death," said Cassandra Parkinson, ABC Friends president
Sarah Morley
ABC Friends Editor (e-news)