The primary responsibility for ensuring that radio programs reflect community standards rests with radio stations themselves under a system of industry-developed codes of practice.
Licence conditions under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 regulate matters such as tobacco and therapeutic goods advertisements, sponsorship announcements on community radio and the broadcast of political matter.
A local content licence condition on most regional commercial radio licensees requires such stations to broadcast a certain amount of material of local significance on business days. Some regional commercial radio stations are also required to meet the minimum service standards for local news and information set out in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
In addition, standards regulate matters such as the disclosure of sponsorship arrangements on commercial radio and ensuring that advertising is clearly distinguishable from all other programs.
