ABA investigations January–June 2005
INVESTIGATI
NS
NO BREACH FINDINGS
CALLSIGN
PROGRAM/
ADVERTISEMENT/ISSUE
SUBSTANCE OF COMPLAINT
CODE/LICENCE CONDITION
COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Ten News
Report on the riots at Macquarie Fields was gratuitously
sensationalist and of a nature to incite community unrest and
riotous behaviour.
Accurate presentation of factual material in news,
viewpoints represented fairly, create public panic,
news presented fairly and impartially, reporting
of factual material clearly distinguished from
commentary and analysis.
ATN 7 Sydney
Today Tonight
Tonight—Living It Up
Segment about children living in a caravan was inaccurate and
an invasion of privacy.
Accurate presentation of factual material in current
affairs, privacy.
TCN 9 Sydney
National Nine News
The broadcast breached privacy of a young person and the
licensee used the service in the commission of an offence
against another Act.
Use of the broadcasting service in the commission
of an offence and privacy.
NRN Northern NSW
The X Factor
The program contained offensive language inappropriate for
the PG timezone.
PG—language.
ATV 10 Melbourne
One Tree Hill
promotion
The promotion for the PG program broadcast during a G
classified film contained sexual references not suitable for
children’s viewing.
PG promotion in G—references to sexual behaviour,
language.
ATV 10 Melbourne
Rat Rac
Racee promotion
Promotion for M classified film broadcast during a PG
timezone was inappropriate as it depicted nudity.
M promotion in PG—nudity.
GTV 9 Melbourne
The Wedding Singer
PG classified movie contained sex, language, drug use and
themes in excess of the PG classification level.
Films may be modified in accordance with OFLC
Guidelines. PG—sex, language, drug use and
themes.
GTV 9 Melbourne
60 Minute
Minutess—The Great
Divide
The broadcast contained factual inaccuracies and was biased.
Accuracy and fair representation of viewpoints.
HSV 7 Melbourne
All Saints
Inappropriate language broadcast in M classified program.
M—language.
HSV 7 Melbourne
Sunrise
In a report on animal activists trying to stop a panda
being returned to China, presenters made racist comments.
Complaints handling.
Provoke or perpetuate intense dislike, serious
contempt or severe ridicule, complaints handling.
VTV Regional Vic
Drop Dead Gorgeous
The movie contained obscene language and sexual references
inappropriate for PG viewing.
PG classification—visual depiction/verbal reference
to sexual behaviour, coarse language.
BTQ 7 Brisbane
Today Tonigh
Tonightt—Holidays
from Hell
Broadcast was inaccurate, one-sided, omitted key information
and used unrelated footage.
Accurate presentation of factual material in current
affairs, factual accuracy in promotions.
BTQ 7 Brisbane
Seven News
A segment reporting on the trial of the man accused of killing
the Australian cricketer David Hookes inaccurately reported
that the deceased had been three times over the legal bloodalcohol limit on the night of his death.
Accurate presentation of factual material in news.
TVQ 10 Brisbane
Neighbours
The episode contained adult sexual references and adult
themes inappropriate for a child audience.
G—Sexual references and themes.
TVQ 10 Brisbane
Queer Eye for the Straight
Guy
The PG classified program contained inappropriate sexual
references.
PG—references to sexual behaviour, adult themes.
TVQ 10 Brisbane
The OC
C promotion
Broadcast of the word ‘bitchin’ was inappropriate during
children’s viewing times.
Promotions in G—language.
TVQ 10 Brisbane
Just Shoot M
Mee and
Newlywed
Newlywedss promotions
Promotions for the PG programs shown during the G classified
movie Stuart Littl
Littlee contained offensive language and strong
sexual references.
Promotions in G—references to sexual behaviour
and socially offensive/discriminatory language.
TNQ Regional
Queensland
The Cook
Cookss promotion
Promotion featuring a rat being thrown into hot oil depicted
animal cruelty in a humorous manner, which was inappropriate.
PG—Violence against animals.
ADS 10 Adelaide
Ten News
Segment gave incorrect information on the legal age of
consent. Response to complainant did not advise to refer
matter to ABA.
Accuracy, complaints handling.
ADS 10 Adelaide
Video Hits
Video clip of the song Just Lose IItt by Eminem was considered
inappropriate for G.
Vilification, G—violence.
NWS 9 Adelaide
The Panic Room
M classified film contained violence and offensive language
in excess of the M classification level and the licensee did not
have regard to the OFLC Guidelines when modifying the film to
M from MA.
Modification of MA films, M—violence and
language.
SAS 7 Adelaide
Today Tonigh
Tonightt promotion of
segments
Three broadcasts and promotions contained inaccuracies,
disregarded the feelings of relatives, invaded privacy of
individuals and were unsuitable for children (in case of
promotions).
G—care in promotions, news and current affairs,
Accuracy and sensitivity for bereaved relatives,
privacy in current affairs.
SAS 7 Adelaide
Today Tonigh
Tonightt—Miscarriage
of Justice
Alleged factual inaccuracy, disregard for feelings of relatives
and invasion of privacy in a segment on a murder case.
Accurate presentation of factual material,
sensitivity for bereaved relatives, privacy.
SAS 7 Adelaide
Today Tonigh
Tonightt—Work Cover
Alleged breach of privacy and presentation of inaccurate
material in segment concerning unlawful receipt of Work Cover
payments.
Accurate presentation of factual material,
complaints handling and privacy.
CTC
Canberra /
Southern NSW
NEW SOUTH WALES
VICTORIA
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
ACMAsphere
|
Issue 4 – December 2005/January 2006
35
INVESTIGATI
CALLSIGN
NS
ABA investigations January–June 2005 NO BREACH FINDINGS
PROGRAM/
ADVERTISEMENT/ISSUE
SUBSTANCE OF COMPLAINT
CODE/LICENCE CONDITION
TASMANIA
News
TNT 7 & 10
Tasmania
Complaint that the report on the collision between two
members of the RAAF Roulettes aerobatics team included
computer-generated simulation and that there was no
acknowledgement of this.
Simulating news.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TVW 7 Perth
Today Tonight
Use of the word ‘pom’ was offensive and discriminatory.
Discrimination in news and current affairs.
NEW 10 Perth
Video Hits
Video clip of the song Goodies
Goodies by Ciara featured provocative
clothing, sexual references and behaviour. Considered to be
inappropriate for G.
G—sex and nudity.
COMMERCIAL RADIO
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
5SSA Adelaide
Hot 30
30—Come Clean
segment
Broadcast of conversations in which lurid confessions were
made, without advising participants that they were on air.
Unauthorised broadcast of statements by
identifiable persons.
5MMM Adelaide
Not specified—Light
entertainment
Broadcast included use of the word ‘gay’ which negatively
reflects on people who are homosexual.
Vilification on the basis of sexual preference.
Murray—Talk back
Paul Murray
Comments by announcer vilified a men’s self-help organisation
and were discriminatory.
Vilification.
2CCC Central Coast
Breakfast Show—
advertisements, sponsorship
Complaint that licensee broadcast advertisements and
sponsorship announcements over the five minutes per hour
limit.
Broadcasting advertisements and sponsorship
announcements in excess of five minutes per hour.
2WAY Port
Macquarie
Volunteer guidelines,
conflict resolution policy
Complainant, a suspended volunteer announcer, was not
provided with volunteer guidelines and conflict resolution
policy.
Volunteer guidelines in place, volunteer guidelines
easily available in document form, written internal
conflict resolution policy.
Pure Playaz
Inappropriate song lyrics broadcast during the Sunday
afternoon R&B and hip hop program.
Consider audience and discrimination.
5EBI
Greek Program
Announcer incorrectly attributed embarrassing comments to
complainant’s wife.
Accuracy.
5FBI
Participation
Application for membership was rejected and no reasons were
given.
Encouraging the community to participate in the
operations and programming of the service.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
6PR Perth
COMMUNITY RADIO
NEW SOUTH WALES
QUEENSLAND
4MET Gold Coast
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TEMPORARY COMMUNITY BROADCASTING LICENCES
Milton Ulladulla and
Districts Community
Radio Association
Inc.
Participation
The temporary licensee is not encouraging community
participation, has rejected an application for membership and
discriminated against the applicant’s association with another
community broadcaster.
Encouraging participation by members of the
community.
The Birth of a Nation
Movie incites racial prejudice, promotes the Ku Klux Klan as
heroes and incites violence against people of other races.
Vilification.
ABN TV
Corners—RSPCA
Four Corners
The broadcast was unfair to RSPCA and did not present a
balanced view.
Impartiality and balance over time in current
affairs.
ABV TV
The Glass House
Joke made about Mother Theresa was discriminatory.
Discrimination.
ABC TV
Lateline
A segment on election issues contained inaccuracies and was
biased. Complaints handling.
Accuracy, balance and impartiality in current
affairs, complaints handling.
ABC Classic FM
Breakfast Show
Presenter’s comments were offensive to people with
disabilities, particularly deaf people.
Discrimination.
2JJJ
Afternoon Program
Swearing in song lyrics. Complaints handling.
Language, complaints handling.
SBS World News,
Dead in the Water
Inaccuracies and anti-Israel bias broadcast in SBS World News
Water documentary.
and Dead in the Water
Accuracy, impartiality.
Broadcast invaded privacy and the licensee used the service in
the commission of an offence against another Act.
Use of the service in the commission of an offence
against another Act, privacy.
COMMUNITY TELEVISION
Briz31
ABC TELEVISION
ABC RADIO
SBS TELEVISION
SBS TV
SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION BROADCASTING
Sky News
Optus Vision Media
Pty Ltd
All potential breaches were of a code of practice except *potential breach of a licence condition or the Broadcasting Services Act
INVESTIGATION TERMINATED
COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
NEW SOUTH WALES
Today Tonight
Tonight— Centrelink
ATN 7 Sydney
36
ACMAsphere
|
Segment did not present factual material accurately, did not fairly
represent viewpoints and failed to correct significant errors of fact.
Further, the licensee failed to provide a written response. The case
reported on is before the courts and therefore could be sub judice.
Issue 4 – December 2005/January 2006
Investigation terminated at complainant’s request and
complaint withdrawn.