Skip to main content

2014 radio investigations

To access any of these investigation reports please contact broadcasting@acma.gov.au.

Program or issue

Station or licensee

Description

Outcome

Report published

General programming

Vintage FM / W & A Willmington Pty Ltd

Categories of broadcasting services - the station is not operating as a narrowcasting service as it is providing programs of broad appeal

The licensee is providing an open narrowcasting service within the meaning of section 18 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3237

19 December 2014

Kate, Tim and Marty 

Nova 100 / Nova 100 Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter - incitement of violence, severe ridicule because of gender, and offending standards of decency - in a segment with a toilet humour theme

No breach of clauses 1.1(a), 1.1(e) [proscribed matter] or 1.3(a) [decency] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3257

21 November 2014

Kate, Tim and Marty 

Nova 96.9 / Nova 96.9 Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter - incitement of hatred, contempt or ridicule because of ethnicity, nationality or race in a segment about ‘ridiculous names’

No breach of clause 1.1(e) [proscribed matter] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3263

21 November 2014

 Law Report

ABC NewsRadio / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Harm and offence - warnings or advice in a segment about asylum seekers that included coarse language

No breach of standards 7.1 or 7.2 [accuracy] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2014)

BI 3272

29 October 2014

Mornings with Steve Austin

612 ABC Brisbane / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Impartiality and diversity or perspectives - in a segment containing an interview about the disposal of dredge material 

No breach of standards 4.1 or 4.2 [due impartiality] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2014)

BI 3241

28 October 2014

Jason and Nelly

92.5 Gold FM / Gold Coast FM Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter - incitement of hatred, contempt or ridicule against the transgender and transsexual community in a segment about Gold Coast ‘characters’

No breach of clause 1.1(e) [proscribed matter] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3242

10 October 2014

Licence condition matter 

107.3 HFM / Heritage FM Inc.

Conditions applicable to services provided under community broadcasting licences - broadcasting advertisements 

Breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) [broadcasting advertisements] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3213

3 October 2014

The Alan Jones Breakfast Show  2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd  Complaints handling and accuracy – in a discussion about the IPCC report on climate change  Breach 2.2(a) [accuracy] and no breach 5.5 and 5.6 [complaints handling] of Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3151

24 September 2014 

The One %ers with Matt Tilley & Joe Hildebrand 

Triple M / Triple M Sydney Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter - incitement of hatred, contempt or ridicule of people on the basis race

No breach of clause 1.1(e) [proscribed matter] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3243

16 September 2014

Heard it through the grapevine

Triple H 96.5 FM / Horsham & District Community FM Radio Inc

Conditions applicable to services provided under community broadcasting licences - broadcasting advertisements 

Breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) [broadcasting advertisements] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3235

15 August 2014

The Ray Hadley Show

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Privacy – in a segment about a public school not having Easter hat parades

No breach of clause 2.3(d) [privacy] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3222

 

10 July 2014

 N/A

Rete Italia / Gumnut Nominees Pty Ltd

Complaints handling

No breach of codes 2.4 or 2.5 [complaints handling] of the Open Narrowcasting Codes of Practice 2011

BI 3220

 

9 July 2014

Sinhalese

Language

Program

SBS Radio 2 / Special Broadcasting Service

Accuracy and impartiality - in a report concerning the Sri Lankan elections

No breach of codes 2.2 [impartiality] or 2.3 [non-SBS sources for news and current affairs programming] of the SBS Code of Practice 2006

BI 3155

7 July 2014

Drive

3AW693 News Talk / Radio 3AW Melbourne Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter, favourable depiction of suicide - in a discussion about voluntary euthanasia

No breach of clause 1.1(d) [Porscribed matter, depict suicide favourably] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3169

2 July 2014

John Laws

2SM / Radio 2SM Pty Ltd

Privacy and complaints handling - through the deliberate broadcast of a complainant’s name and telephone number

Breach of clause 2.3 [privacy] and no breach of clause 5.5 [complaints handling] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3211

27 June 2014

Conversations with Richard Fidler

720 ABC Perth / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Accuracy and harm and offence - in an interview segment about growing up in a Christian community

No breach of standards 2.1 [accuracy] or 7. 7 [unjustified use of stereotypes] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3204

20 June 2014

Alan Jones Breakfast Show 

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Factual accuracy – in a segment discussing Australian intelligence agencies monitoring conversations of high-ranking officials in Indonesia

No breach of clauses 2.2(a) [factual accuracy] or 2.3(a) [distinguish factual material] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3171

18 June 2014

Sound. Music. Word.

Radio National / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Harm and offence – in a segment featuring the poetry and memoirs of performance poet

No breach of standards 7.1 [harm and offence] or 7.2 [warnings or advice] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3157

6 June 2014

RN Breakfast

Radio National / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Due impartiality and diversity of perspectives - in report on parliamentary debate about Operation Sovereign Borders

No breach of standard 4.1 [due impartiality] or of standard 4.2 [present diversity of perspectives] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3203

4 June 2014

Mornings with Genevieve Jacobs

666 ABC Canberra / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Harm and offence – in a segment discussing the etymology and use of certain words relating to the female anatomy and sexual violence

No breach of standards 7.1 [harm and offence] or 7.2 [warnings or advice] of the ABC Codes of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3167

2 June 2014

Alan Jones Breakfast Show

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Accuracy – in a talkback segment discussing the National Broadband Network (the NBN)

Breach of clause 2.2(a) [accuracy] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011

BI 3065

22 May 2014

PM Queensland Country Hour

Radio National / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Accuracy, due impartiality and diversity of perspectives - in a report on kangaroo population increases

No breach of standards 2.1, 2.2 [accuracy], 4.1 [due impartiality] or 4.2 [diversity of perspectives] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3162

16 May 2014

Jonesy and Amanda Afternoon Delight program promotion

WSFM 101.7 / ARN Communications Pty Ltd

Decency - in a program promotion for a comedic segment about ‘work for the dole’

No breach of clause 1.3 [standards of decency] of Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3186

5 May 2014

Licence condition matters

Capital 101.7FM  / Capital Community Radio Incorporated

Conditions applicable to services provided under community broadcasting licences  - Encouraging community participation, representing community interest, and policies for membership; internal conflict; complaints handling; community participation; and volunteering, policies to be freely available, and complaints handling

Breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(i) [encouraging participation in operations] and no breach of paragraph 9(2)(b) [representing community interest] and paragraph 9(2)(c)(ii) [encouraging participation in selection and provision of programs] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Breach of codes 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 and 7.3(b) of the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2008

BI 3163

11 April 2014

Licence condition matters

96.3 FM Bundaberg / Bundaberg Burnett Community Broadcasting Association

Conditions applicable to services provided under community broadcasting licences - not encouraging community participation in the operations of the service.

Breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(i) [encouraging participation in operations] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3166

11 April 2014

Saturday Extra

Radio National / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Due impartiality and diversity of perspectives - in a discussion of the US Affordable Care Act, also known as ‘Obamacare’

No breach of standards 4.1 [due impartiality] or 4.2 [diversity of perspectives] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3156

7 April 2014

John Laws – Fortress of Irreverent Logic

2SM / Radio 2SM Pty Ltd

Accuracy and privacy - in a talkback segment on computer service

No breach of codes 2.2(a) [accuracy], 2.3(c) [misrepresent viewpoints] or 2.3(d) [privacy] of the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3164

14 March 2014

Licence condition matters

Hawkesbury Radio / Hawkesbury Radio Communications Co-operative Society Ltd

Conditions applicable to services provided under community broadcasting licences - encouraging participation in the operations of the licensee and in the selection and provision of programs 

Breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(i) [encouraging participation in operations] and no breach of paragraphs 9(2)(b) [representing community interest] or paragraph 9(2)(c)(ii) [encouraging participation in selection and provision of programs] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3079

12 March 2014

Ray Hadley Morning Show

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Accuracy and complaints handling – in a discussion about asylum seekers

Breach of clause 5.5 [complaints handling] and no breach of clause 2.2(a) [accuracy] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011

BI 3063

21 February 2014

Chris Smith Afternoon Show

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Accuracy and complaints handling – in a discussion about asylum seekers

Breach of clause 5.5 [complaints handling] and no breach of clause 2.2(a) [accuracy] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011

BI 3062

21 February 2014

Ray Hadley Morning Show

2GB / Harbour Radio Pty Ltd

Accuracy and complaints handling – in a discussion about asylum seekers

Breach of clause 5.5 [complaints handling] and no breach of clause 2.2(a) [accuracy] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011

BI 3054

21 February 2014

Drive with Richard Dinnen

ABC Radio (Far North QLD) / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Accuracy and fair and honest dealing – in a discussion about the amalgamation of councils

No breach of standards 2.1 [factual accuracy] or 5.3 [fair opportunity to respond] of ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3142

20 February 2014

Summer 30 

2DAY / Today FM (Sydney) Pty Ltd

Decency, broadcast of identifiable person without consent and treatment of participants in live hosted programs – in a segment involving a prank call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness

Breach of clauses 6.1 and 9.1 and no breach of clauses 1.3, 2.1(d) and 2.3(d) of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2011

Breach of the licence condition set out in paragraph 8(1)(g) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

No breach of the additional licence condition on commercial radio broadcasting licence no. 3032 imposed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 8 October 2012

BI 2928

14 February 2014

PM with Mark Colvin

Radio National / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Accuracy – in a segment about a measles outbreak, that included excerpts of an interview with a spokeswoman for the Australian Vaccination Network, an anti-vaccination group

No breach of standards 2.1, 2.2 [accuracy] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011 (revised 2013)

BI 3123

6 February 2014

Mornings and Drive

6PR Perth / Radio 6PR Perth Pty Ltd

Proscribed matter  and misrepresented viewpoints - in an interview segment discussing voluntary euthanasia

No breach of clauses 1.1(d), 1.2(a) [proscribed matter] or 2.3(c) [misrepresented viewpoints] of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013

BI 3109

6 February 2014

Drivetime with Wilmo

Vintage FM / W&A Willmington Pty Ltd

Categories of broadcasting services - the station is not operating as a narrowcasting service as it is providing programs of broad appeal

No breach of section 133 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3140

4 February 2014

4pm news bulletin

3REG East Gippsland / Radio East Gippsland Incorporated

Community standards, demean on the basis of gender and complaints handling - in a broadcast where the host made a joke about hitting his wife

Breach of code 7.3 (b) and (c) [complaints] handling and no breach of code 3.2 or 3.3 [general programming] of the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2008

BI 3130

23 January 2014

Easy Listening

2REM Albury / Radio Albury Wodonga Cooperative Society Ltd

Offensive language and complaints handling – in a segment that included a song with crude and offensive lyrics

Breach of code 3.2 [programming practices] and 7.3 (b) and (c) [complaints handling] of the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2008

BI 3127

16 January 2014

Trigger event reporting

3NNN - Edge FM / North East Broadcasters Pty Ltd

Failure to submit a draft local content plan and statement (that included a local presence report), following a trigger event

Breach of paragraph 8(2)(c) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Breach of licence condition at section 8 of the Broadcasting Services (Regional Commercial Radio – Local Presence) Licence Condition 2012

BI 3132

10 January 2014

Trigger event reporting

 

3NE - Solid Gold Hits / North East Broadcasters Pty Ltd

Failure to submit a draft local content planand statement (that included a local presence report), following a trigger event

Breach of paragraph 8(2)(c) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Breach of licence condition at section 8 of theBroadcasting Services (Regional Commercial Radio – Local Presence) Licence Condition 2012

BI 3133

10 January 2014

Trigger event reporting

2QN - Hits and Memories / Rich Rivers Radio Pty Ltd

Failure to submit a draft local content plan and statement(that included a local presence report), following a trigger event

Breach of paragraph 8(2)(c) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Breach of licence condition at section 8 of the Broadcasting Services (Regional Commercial Radio – Local Presence) Licence Condition 2012

BI 3134

10 January 2014

Trigger event reporting

2MOR Deniliquin - Classic Rock / Rich Rivers Radio Pty Ltd

Failure to submit a draft local content plan and statement (that included a local presence report), following a trigger event

Breach of paragraph 8(2)(c) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Breach of licence condition at section 8 of the Broadcasting Services (Regional Commercial Radio – Local Presence) Licence Condition 2012

BI 3135

10 January 2014

Outdoor broadcast

2RRR Ryde / Ryde Regional Radio Cooperative Ltd

Broadcasting advertisements and excessive sponsorship announcements.

Breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) [broadcasting advertisements]and no breach of paragraph 9(3)(b) [sponsorship time limit] of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

BI 3080

8 January 2014

Advertisement for Laytani Arguileh Lounge

2ME / Asia Pacific Property Development Pty Ltd

Conditions applicable to broadcasting services provided under class licences - tobacco advertising

No breach of paragraph 11(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 or subsection 13(1) of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992

BI 3144

7 January 2014

Mornings with Jon Faine

774 ABC Melbourne / Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Accuracy and due impartiality - bias in an interview segment with a politician

No breach of standards 2.1 [factual accuracy] or 4.1 [due impartiality] of the ABC Code of Practice 2011

BI 3111

6 January 2014

Back to top
ONLINE ENQUIRY