 |
We completed 33 assessments |
 |
Our assessments led to 4 investigations |
 |
We finalised one investigation with a breach finding |
Assessments
The co-regulatory framework is set out in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). It gives broadcasters the chance to respond to – and resolve – all complaints about alleged breaches of broadcasting codes before we get involved.
If the complainant:
- has been to the broadcaster and isn’t satisfied with the response
- has not received a response
we assess their complaint to decide if we investigate.
We also assess all complaints that allege a breach of licence conditions and standards. In assessing a complaint, the ACMA will review:
- the complaint
- any response from the broadcaster
- a copy of the broadcast
- the rules in the relevant code
- public interest considerations.
Find out more about our broadcasting complaints-handling process.
Assessment outcomes are also published on the ACMA website.
Assessment decisions
| Investigations commenced | No further action | Total assessment decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4 | 29 | 33 |
Assessment decisions by sector
| Community broadcasters | Subscription TV | National broadcasters | Commercial TV/radio | Open narrowcasting radio services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigations commenced | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| No further action | 3 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
Investigations finalised: April to June 2026
| Breach | No breach |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
Investigations finalised by sector: April to June 2026
| Commercial television/radio | National broadcasters | Community broadcasters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breach | 1 | ||
| No breach |
Average time taken to finalise closed investigations, as at 30 June 2026
| Jun-25 | Sep-25 | Dec-25 | Mar-26 | Jun-26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly average in months | 5.9 | 5 | 4.3 | 8.2 | 4.7 |
| Rolling average over previous 4 quarters | 5.9 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
Finalised investigations
|
Investigation number |
Date of broadcast / broadcaster |
Description |
Provisions investigated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (2015) (revised 2018) | |||
|
Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd 7 News Adelaide |
Material which may cause distress Privacy |
|
|
We take a graduated approach to enforcement, under our compliance and enforcement policy.
Under the BSA, enforcement options for a breach of an industry code may include:
- agreed measures (informal resolution)
- a court-enforceable undertaking for non-compliance
- an additional licence condition
For a breach of a licence condition of the BSA, we may:
- impose agreed measures
- impose a court-enforceable undertaking for non-compliance
- issue a remedial direction requiring action to address the contravention
- impose an additional licence condition.
The ACMA considers matters such as:
- the nature and seriousness of the breach
- the level of harm caused to the community
- the compliance history of the licensee
- any remedial actions proactively undertaken by the licensee in determining its approach.
We will generally publicise any enforcement action we take. The table below shows enforcement actions taken in the April to June 2026 quarter.
Enforcement actions
|
Investigation number |
Date of broadcast / broadcaster |
Description |
Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcasting Services Act 1992 | |||
|
|
Prime Television (Victoria) Pty Limited
1 May 2025 |
Election advertising blackout rules |
The licensee completed agreed measures as follows:
|
| ABC Code of Practice 2024 | |||
|
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
19 August 2024 |
Accuracy
Impartiality |
The ABC agreed to:
|
|