A local ABC newsreader in Tasmania has endured an excruciating 10 minutes on-air as a string of technical difficulties derailed the 7am bulletin.
Media commentator Tim Burrowes described Wednesday morning’s mishap as “the longest 10 minutes of radio I’ve heard”, after 940 ABC Hobart newsreader Loretta Lohberger read out a series of reports only for the wrong audio to be repeatedly played.
“The poor presenter of the ABC bulletin in Tasmania had something go wrong with the tech,” Burrowes wrote on Twitter.
“Every report she played was the wrong one. Eventually somebody behind the scenes stopped the fight and switched to the Victorian(?) bulletin.”
The bulletin started normally, with the first two stories — Donald Trump’s New York arrest and the sentencing in a Hobart court of a drunk driver who hit three people on Bruny Island in 2021 — going off withouth a hitch.
The problems started as Lohberger introduced the third story.
“China has expressed unhappiness over the Albanese government’s move to ban the app TikTok from government devices. South East Asia correspondent Bill Birtles has more,” she said.
But instead of Birtles, audio played of volunteer Des Goss, for different story about a fundraiser after a fire at the Don River heritage rail centre in Devonport which caused significant damage on Tuesday.
“I think the last count was about $2000 which is fantastic for just one afternoon,” Mr Goss said in the clip. “And there’s not only me involved, there’s hundreds of other volunteers over the years that put input into the society and we’re getting new ones as well.”
Lohberger told listeners “apologies for that audio there” before reading out the accompanying report.
“That was volunteer Des Goss from the Don River railway where donations are pouring in after a large fire damaged two heritage train carriages, warehouses and a function centre at the heritage railway in the state’s northwest,” she said.
“An investigation found the blaze at the heritage railway near Devonport was accidentally lit with the probable cause being restoration work on a carriage in the main workshop. The fire caused an estimated $5 million in damage.”
After a lengthy pause she then returned to the TikTok story.
“China has expressed unhappiness over the Albanese government’s move to ban the app TikTok from government devices — now here’s East Asia correspondent Bill Birtles,” she said.
This time audio played of a report from journalist Nicole Asher about a Melbourne woman’s $2.6 million payout for abuse in Victoria’s foster care system.
“And that was Nicole Asher there and the Melbourne woman she was speaking about has been awarded what’s believed to be a record court settlement for abuse suffered as a child in the foster care system,” Lohberger said.
The newsreader could be heard taking a deep breath before taking a stab at the next story. “NSW Premier Chris Minns and his full frontbench team will be officially sworn in this afternoon at Government House in Sydney,” she said.
“The new cabinet will make history with half the cabinet being women for the first time ever in NSW. Mr Minns says the move to provide equal representation on the front bench is long overdue. Rose Jackson is the new Minister for Water, Housing and Mental Health, and admits it’s a daunting prospect.”
But instead of Ms Jackson’s audio, the Donald Trump news package began to play again before being cut off.
Lohberger, by this point beginning to sound a bit frazzled, powered through the next read about Tasmania’s upper house elections in May.
After another lengthy pause she attempted to introduce the next piece of audio.
“An Australian music educator who’s studied the work of neuroscientists says playing an instrument helps to ward off dementia. Alexander Lewis explains,” she said.
A full 10 seconds of dead air followed before Asher’s story began to play again.
“And apologies for that audio there,” Lohberger said.
“Um … the last cruise ship to dock in Tasmania this season is due in Burnie today. The Coral Princess is the last ship to visit the state until the Pacific Adventure docks in September. More than 150 cruise ships have booked to visit Tasmanian ports next season.”
Another brutal 10-second silence followed as Lohberger could be heard shuffling papers.
“And just going back to that story from Brisbane, an Australian music educator—” she began. “An Australian music educator who’s studied the work of neuroscientists says playing an instrument helps to ward off dementia. Alexander Lewis explains.”
The ABC News intro theme music then began blaring before suddenly cutting off.
“And I’ll just read that story for you,” Lohberger said, taking matters into her own hands as she started to literally read out the article.
“Rita West’s fingers dance on the violin with passion and speed—” she began, but was cut off mid-sentence as the feed was abruptly switched to a national news bulletin.
ABC Hobart breakfast host Ryk Goddard returned after the break to apologise for the technical difficulties.
“Thank you, Loretta will be encouraged by all your kind messages after that bulletin,” Goddard said.
“We’re working out what went on there as quickly as we can and thank you for being understanding, really appreciate it. That’s what we love about local radio — we’re caring people here, we’re not ‘meanie paninis’, as we would describe it in my home.”
Burrowes commented on Twitter, “She’d have been justified in knocking off and going to the pub. It was stressful enough just listening.”
The ABC has been contacted for comment.
frank.chung@news.com.au