The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that it will immediately improve its recently changed radio harvest ban policy in Western Australia, following condemnation by WAFarmers and other stakeholders.

The decision follows last week’s announcement by the ABC that it had changed its harvest ban policy to just one announcement per day at 10:00am.

WAFarmers Director of Policy, Alan Hill, noted that the single announcement policy received significant and immediate criticism from across the State, due to concerns of the effectiveness and practicality of the new policy and its potential to impact on the safety of people and property.

“WAFarmers immediately responded to its members concerns about the change in policy by publically raising the issue with the ABC (via media release on November 10, 2009), meeting with the ABC on Wednesday (November 11, 2009) and providing official feedback summarising members concerns,” said Mr Hill.

In its correspondence, WAFarmers requested that the ABC make a minimum of three harvest ban announcements throughout the day, with these announcements being made mid-morning, during the Country Hour and mid-afternoon. WAFarmers also requested consideration for a late afternoon announcement which could report on the status (i.e. current or lifted) of harvest bans made earlier in the day.

Effective today, the ABC will broadcast all harvest ban notices three times per day; immediately following the 10:00am news bulletin, during the Country Hour at 12.35pm and just after the 2:00pm news.

“While very disappointed that the initial change in policy was made without consultation with industry, WAFarmers is pleased that the ABC has responded quickly to the concerns of members and other stakeholders in making this change and have listened to WAFarmers suggestions,” Mr Hill noted.

“WAFarmers will monitor the effectiveness of the modified policy to ensure that this essential service meets the needs of rural communities and ask that members continue to provide feedback on the harvest ban reporting policy during the harvest period.”

Mr Hill concluded by noting that WAFarmers welcomes the future opportunity to regularly meet with ABC representatives to discuss social, technical and financial issues of importance to Western Australia’s farming community.