Australian Poetry deeply regrets that Poetica, the ABC Radio National program dedicated to Poetry, has been axed as part of the cuts announced by ABC Managing Director Mark Scott on 24 November.

The loss of a dedicated poetry show from Australian airwaves is tremendously disappointing and deeply felt by all at Australian Poetry.

Poetica combines the reading of poetry with interviews, music and sound to make a full-length radio feature. There is no other program like it in the world. Poetica has been on air for 18 years, making some 900 broadcasts of Australian and international poetry, paying fees to poets both established and emerging and broadcasting their work to a weekly audience of 60,000 listeners and many thousands more on the web.

Poetica’s always engaging content reflects Australia’s national love of poetry and Mike Ladd and his colleagues have developed an invaluable legacy of readings, interviews and features.

Poetry is at the very heart of culture and Australian Poetry believes that Poetica is one of the best cultural radio programs to be broadcast by the ABC.

As a subscriber to Australian Poetry and a supporter of poetry in Australia, we urge you to do all you can to appeal this decision – write to the papers, the ABC board, the Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull MP and your local federal member.

The Poetica program has promoted and shared local and international poetry and enhanced its enjoyment since 1997. Australian Poetry urges the government and the ABC to reconsider this decision and retain this outstanding radio program.

Australian Poetry has released the following media statement: http://australianpoetry.org/news/australian-poetry-on-poetica-abc-radio-national