Investigations into radio broadcasters

If we think a radio station has breached a broadcasting law, we can investigate.

On this page

About our investigations

When we finish each investigation, we publish a report to explain:

  • if there is a complaint, what it is about
  • when it happened
  • the relevant law
  • what we found when we investigated

We publish reports for the past 2 years here. For lists of older reports, consult our Annual reports available on the Analysis & Policy Observatory website. Each quarter, we also publish a summary of actions we have taken on broadcasting.

To access older investigation reports please contact broadcasting@acma.gov.au.
Issue
  • Decency and  Incitement in a discussion about the Virgin Mary and Christian beliefs
Findings
  • Breach of 2.2 [decency]
  • No breach of 2.1.4 [incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule because of religion]
  • (ref. BI-537)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-537 Investigation report [docx, 386.35 KB]
Issue
  • Decency
Findings
  • Breach of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2017
  • (ref. BI-539)
Linked content
download
docx
Investigation report BI-539 [docx, 338.55 KB]
Issue
  • Accuracy, Decency, Incite serious contempt, severe ridicule, because of gender or nationality, Incite violence in commentary about Jacinda Ardern
Findings
  • Breach of 3.2.1 [factual accuracy]
  • Breach of 2.2 [offend generally accepted standards of decency]
  • No breach of 2.1.1 [incite, encourage violence]
  • No breach of 2.1.4 [incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule on the basis of gender]
  • No breach of 2.1.4 [incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule on the basis of ethnicity, nationality or race]
  • (ref BI-529)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-529 Investigation report [docx, 420.11 KB]
Issue
  • Narrowcasting
Findings
  • Breach of paragraphs 4.3(a) and 4.8(a) of the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Broadcasting Licence) Determination 2015
  • Breach paragraph 11(1)(d) of Schedule 2 to the BSA (for failure to comply with the requirements of subclause 5(2))
  • (ref BI-507)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-507 Investigation report [docx, 394.58 KB]
Issue
  • Encourage community participation in the operations of the service.
Findings
  • No breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(ii) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • (ref BI-520)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-520 Investigation report [docx, 315.71 KB]
Issue
  • Broadcast of advertisements
Findings
  • No breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • (ref BI-527 & BI-528)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-527 and BI-528 Investigation report [docx, 334.9 KB]
Issue
  • Broadcast of advertisements
  • Time limit for sponsorship announcements
Findings
  • No breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • No finding regarding paragraph 9(3)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • (ref BI-509)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-509 Investigation report [docx, 336.38 KB]
Issue
  • Broadcast of advertisements
  • Time limit for sponsorship announcements
Findings
  • Breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • No breach of paragraph 9(3)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • (ref BI-508)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-508 Investigation report [docx, 741.63 KB]
Issue
  • Broadcast of advertisements
  • Time limit for sponsorship announcements
Findings
  • Breach of paragraph 9(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • No breach of paragraph 9(3)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA
  • (ref BI-510)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-510 Investigation report [docx, 333.47 KB]
Issue
  • Represent community interest; provide service for community purposes
Findings
  • No breach of paragraph 9(2)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA [represent community interest]
  • No breach of paragraph 9(2)(d) of Schedule 2 to the BSA [provide service for community purposes]
  • (ref BI-550)
Linked content
download
docx
BI-550 Investigation report [docx, 323.62 KB]
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Investigations Radio CSV
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Investigations Radio JSON

Previous investigations

2017 radio investigations

2016 radio investigations

2015 radio investigations

2014 radio investigations

2013 radio investigations

2012 radio investigations

2011 radio investigations

2010 radio investigations

Last updated: 12 November 2026
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