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Sky News becomes emergency broadcaster

On 14 October 2009 the Victorian Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (an MOU) with Sky News Melbourne to become an official emergency broadcaster.

The MOU with Sky News, signed by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron on behalf of the State of Victoria, is similar to the MOU that is already in place between the emergency services and ABC Local Radio in Victoria.

The new MOU is another important step in making sure emergency services can get emergency warning messages out to the community quickly and with a high degree of accuracy.

Sky News will broadcast emergency warnings on the Sky News 24 hour television channel, the Sky News Melbourne channel, the Sky News website and in an SMS message to their subscribers.

Sky News has agreed to broadcast warnings immediately, repeatedly, and for as long as necessary as requested by the emergency services.

The MOU will cover all hazards including floods, earthquakes, windstorms and fires.

The MOU builds on the actions the Government is taking to make the state fire ready and to implement the recommendations in the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission's Interim Report.