Skip to main navigation Skip to content Skip to footer links

In this section

No results were found

Related links

Contacts

Advertising Standards Bureau
Level 2
97 Northbourne Avenue
Turner ACT 2612
Tel: 02 6262 9822
Fax: 02 6262 9833
Web: www.adstandards.com.au

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
GPO Box 9994
Your capital city
Web: www.abc.net.au

Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box Q500
Queen Victoria Building
NSW 1230
Tel: 1800 226 667 (a free call) or 02 9334 7700
Fax: 02 9334 7799
Web: www.acma.gov.au

Australian Press Council
Suite 10.02
117 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9261 1930 or 1800 02 5712
Fax: 02 9267 6826
Email: info@presscouncil.org.au or complaints@presscouncil.org.au
Web: www.presscouncil.org.au

ASTRA
55 Pyrmont Bridge Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Tel: 02 9776 2684
Fax: 02 9776 2683
Email: astra@astra.org.au
Web: www.astra.org.au

Commercial Radio Australia Ltd
Level 5
88 Foveaux Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: 02 9281 6577
Fax: 02 9281 6599
Email: mail@commercialradio.com.au
Web: www.commercialradio.com.au

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
P.O. Box 564
Alexandria NSW 1435
Tel: 02 9310 2999
Fax: 02 9319 4545
Email: office@cbaa.org.au
Web: www.cbaa.org.au

Free TV Australia
44 Avenue Road
Mosman NSW 2088
Tel: 02 8968 7100
Fax: 02 9969 3520
Email: contact@freetvaust.com.au
Web: www.freetv.com.au

Special Broadcasting Service
Locked Bag 028
Crows Nest NSW 1585
Tel: 02 9430 2828
Fax: 02 9430 3700
Web: www.sbs.com.au

 

Broadcasting complaints

This page outlines the processes for making complaints about:

Complaints about the content of material on the internet should be directed to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Complaints about the content of newspapers and magazines should be directed to the editor of the publication in the first instance.

Advertising

A self-regulatory system for the advertising industry was instigated in 1998 by the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).

The AANA has set out a code of ethics for advertisers and a set of principles and advisory notes for advertising to children and a code for advertising of food and beverages. Where relevant, these are used in conjunction with codes from the broadcasting and other industry sectors in assessing complaints about advertisements.

The Advertising Standards Bureau receives advertising complaints from the public and refers them to the Advertising Standards Board for determination. Complaints can be made about issues including health and safety, the use of language, the discriminatory portrayal of people, concern for children and portrayals of violence, sex, sexuality and nudity. This is a free service to members of the public.

The Advertising Claims Board (ACB) reviews complaints between competitors on matters of truth, accuracy and legality of advertisements.

(Note: the placement and classification of television advertising is covered by the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice and the relevant SBS code of practice. See the section below on television and radio for information on making complaints about breaches of these codes.)

Complaints about the content of advertisements must be made in writing to the Advertising Standards Bureau and must include a postal address.

Find out more about making a complaint about advertising content at the How to complain page on the Advertising Standards Bureau website.

To lodge a complaint, use the ASB online complaints form or use the contact details provided at right.

Television and radio

Most program content matters for television and radio are covered by industry codes of practice (see links to the various codes in the column to the right).

These codes are developed with reference to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA), which provides the legislative foundation for the regulation of content on commercial, community, subscription (pay) and class licensed (narrowcast) services.

Complaints about material broadcast on radio or television will be assessed in terms of how that content breaches those codes.

The first step in making a complaint about material broadcast on commercial television, commercial radio or ABC or SBS services is to write directly to the broadcaster concerned.

If the complainant does not receive an answer within 60 days, or is unhappy with the answer provided, the matter can be referred to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Because of the number of individual radio and television services, it is not practical to list contact details for them here. Local telephone directories provide contact information for local stations, while the ACMA website provides lists of licensed broadcasters.

Contact details for complaints to the national broadcasters are available from the websites of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

See contact details and links for all relevant broadcasting bodies listed at right.

Film, videos, computer games, publications and music recordings

All films, videos, computer games and certain categories of publications (including magazines) and music video recordings are classified using the National Classification system, which is administered within the Attorney-General's portfolio. Classification provides information about the content of these products to assist consumers in deciding what is appropriate for themselves and their families.

Print media

Complaints about the content of newspapers, periodicals and the related websites of those publications should first go to the editor or other representative of the publication concerned.

If the complaint is not resolved in this way it can be referred, in writing, to the Australian Press Council (APC)—the industry body that oversees the responsible and ethical behavior of its members.

Information on making complaints about print media is available on the APC website. Use the online complaint form or write to the APC at the address given in the contacts column on this page.

  • Document ID: 8677 |
  • Last modified: 14 October 2008, 9:56pm