Part 2—Privacy, causing serious offence, and vilification
8 Privacy
(1) A program should not include the broadcasting of matter that:
(a) relates to an individual’s personal or private affairs; or
(b) intrudes on an individual’s privacy.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the matter is in the public interest.
9 Matter causing serious offence or hatred
(1) A program should not include matter that is likely:
(a) to seriously offend a cultural sensitivity of an ethnic or racial component of the international audience; or
(b) to incite or perpetuate hatred against, or vilify, a person or group of people on the grounds of age, colour, gender, national or ethnic origin, disability, race, religion or sexual preference.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the matter is both:
(a) presented reasonably, and in good faith; and
(b) any of the following:
(i) material of an artistic nature;
(ii) a statement that is made, or a discussion or debate that is held, for an academic, artistic or scientific purpose;
(iii) a statement that is made, or a discussion or debate that is held, for a public interest purpose that is not mentioned in subparagraph (ii).
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the matter is a comment on, or a fair report of, an event or matter of public interest.
Part 3—Simulation of events
10 Simulated events
(1) A program should not include matter that simulates an event in a way that is likely to alarm or mislead the international audience.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the matter is both:
(a) presented reasonably, and in good faith; and
(b) any of the following:
(i) material of an artistic nature;
(ii) a statement that is made, or a discussion or debate that is held, for an academic, artistic or scientific purpose; or
(iii) a statement that is made, or a discussion or debate that is held, for a public interest purpose that is not mentioned in subparagraph (ii).
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the matter is a comment on, or a fair report of, an event or matter of public interest.
Part 4—Broadcasting to children
11 General guideline
Matter in a children’s program should deal with a topic in a manner that has sufficient regard to the healthy educational, emotional and physical development of children.
Note: The definition of a program in subsection 6(1) of the Act includes advertising or sponsorship matter, whether or not of a commercial kind.
12 Advertisements produced for children
(1) This section applies to an advertisement for a product or service for which a significant component of the international audience that will see or hear the advertisement is likely to be children.
(2) The advertisement should, as far as practicable, represent accurately the product or service.
(3) The advertisement should not have the effect of putting undue pressure on children in the international audience to purchase the product or service.
(4) The advertisement should not state or imply that:
(a) the product or service will have the effect of making children who have it or use it superior to other children; or
(b) a person who purchases or provides the product or service is more generous than another person.
(5) If the advertisement makes a representation about a food product, the advertisement should not contain any false or misleading information about the nutritional value of the product.
(6) If the advertisement mentions the price of a product or a service:
(a) the advertisement should, as far as practicable, represent accurately the price; and
(b) the advertisement should not, as far as practicable, qualify the price by words such as ‘only’ or ‘just’.
(7) If the advertisement includes a representation about a product (including toys and games), or a service, the advertisement should not show a person using the product or service in a way that does not fairly indicate the performance that a person of the same age could reasonably obtain from those, or similar, products or services.
(8) If the advertisement includes a representation about an accessory that is required to use an advertised product properly, the advertisement should:
(a) make it clear that the accessory is required; and
(b) differentiate clearly between the price of the product and the price of the accessory.
Note: The following are examples of accessories:
1 A battery.
2 A transformer.
3 Doll’s clothes.
(9) If the advertisement is in the form of a live‑action presentation of a product, the advertisement should make a representation about the size of the product by a reasonably clear reference to something that a child could readily recognise.
Note: The requirements in this section are additional to the requirements in Part 6.
13 Promotions in children’s programs
(1) This section applies to a program:
(a) that is not an advertisement; and
(b) for which a significant component of the international audience that will see or hear the advertisement is likely to be children.
Note: Advertisements are dealt with in section 12.
(2) The program should not include an attempt by:
(a) the host of the program; or
(b) another regular presenter of the program; or
(c) a guest or character in the program;
to sell, to promote, or to recommend, products or services.
(3) The program should not include matter that is an attempt to sell, to promote, or to recommend, a product that:
(a) depicts:
(i) the host of the program; or
(ii) another regular presenter of the program; or
(iii) a guest or character in the program; or
(b) includes the name of any of those people; or
(c) is displayed in packaging that includes the name of, or depicts, any of those people.
(4) The program should not include matter that is an attempt to sell, to promote, or to recommend, a service that includes the name of:
(a) the host of the program; or
(b) another regular presenter of the program; or
(c) a character in the program.
(5) The program should not include matter that is an attempt to sell, to promote, or to recommend:
(a) an alcoholic beverage; or
(b) medicine; or
(c) a narcotic substance.
(6) If the program includes matter that is an attempt to sell, to promote, or to recommend, a product or a service that is permitted under this section:
(a) the matter should be presented as a discrete part of the program; and
(b) the audience should be informed:
(i) during the program, and immediately before the presentation of the matter; and
(ii) in a way that it would be reasonable to expect children to understand;
that the matter has a sponsor; and
(c) the matter should not have the effect of putting undue pressure on children in the international audience to purchase the product or service; and
(d) the matter should not state or imply that:
(i) the product or service will have the effect of making children who have it or use it superior to other children; or
(ii) a person who purchases or provides the product or service is more generous than another person.
Note: The requirements in this section are additional to the requirements in Part 6.
14 Competitions
(1) This section applies to the broadcast of matter that deals with a competition in which children may participate.
(2) The matter should:
(a) state clearly a summary of the principal rules of the competition; and
(b) state accurately, clearly and fairly the chance of winning a prize.
(3) If a significant component of the international audience for the program is likely to be children, the matter should refer to a prize in the competition briefly and without unreasonable repetition.
Part 5—News and current affairs
15 Application
This Part applies to the following programs:
(a) a news bulletin; and
(b) a news flash; and
(c) a news update; and
(d) a current affairs program.
16 General guideline
A program should consist of matter that:
(a) is presented accurately, having regard to the circumstances existing when the program is broadcast; and
(b) represents opinions fairly, having regard to the circumstances existing when the program is broadcast; and
(c) clearly distinguishes between factual material, simulation, and commentary and analysis; and
(d) treats with sensitivity images of, or interviews with, bereaved people and survivors and witnesses of traumatic incidents.
17 Impartiality
(1) A program should be impartial.
(2) As part of the assessment of impartiality in a program:
(a) it is not necessary for the presenter or editorial staff involved in the program to be uncritical or unquestioning of an event or opinion; and
(b) it is not necessary for the program to give equal time to the treatment of differing opinions about a matter.
18 Balance
(1) A program should be balanced.
(2) As part of the assessment of balance in a program:
(a) it is not necessary for the program to present all the significant opinions about a matter; but
(b) it is appropriate to consider whether all the significant opinions will be presented in one or more similar programs within a reasonable period.
Note: A program may be the first or last in a series of similar programs. The reasonable period in which all of the significant opinions should be presented may have started before the date of an individual program.
19 Presentation of matter
(1) The matter in a program should not be presented in a manner that is likely to cause a substantial component of the international audience to panic.
(2) If a program includes matter about the behaviour of a group of people or businesses, the matter should not identify unfairly an individual member of the group.
(3) A program should not include matter that identifies or depicts an individual or a group of people in a negative way, based on the gratuitous emphasis of any of the following attributes:
(a) age;
(b) colour;
(c) gender;
(d) national or ethnic origin;
(e) physical or mental disability;
(f) race;
(g) religion; or
(h) sexual preference.
(4) However, subsection (3) does not apply if the broadcast of the matter is in the public interest.
20 Presentation of death or injury
(1) This section applies to a program if the matter in the program is likely to include any of the following:
(a) images of one or more dead people;
(b) images of one or more seriously wounded or injured people;
(c) images of one or more bereaved people; or
(d) an interview with one or more bereaved people.
(2) The matter should be presented, as far as practicable, in a way that is appropriate having regard to:
(a) the likely feelings of the international audience; and
(b) the importance of avoiding serious offence or distress.
(3) If it is practicable before the matter is broadcast:
(a) the audience should be warned about the nature of the matter; and
(b) the warning should give a member of the audience a reasonable opportunity to avoid seeing or hearing the matter before it is broadcast; and
(c) the warning should not include anything that is likely to seriously offend or distress a substantial component of the international audience; and
(d) the warning should be broadcast in an audio or visual format that is presented at a time, and in a manner, that is likely to be understood by that audience.
(4) The matter should not identify directly or indirectly a victim of a violent accident or crime before the members of the victim’s immediate family are notified of the accident or crime by the relevant authority.
21 Presentation of suicide
(1) This section applies to a program if the matter in the program is likely to refer (by images or a report) to:
(a) suicide; or
(b) attempted suicide.
(2) The matter may be broadcast only if it is in the public interest.
(3) If the matter is broadcast, the matter:
(a) should be presented in a straightforward manner; and
(b) should not describe or portray in detail the method in which the suicide was committed or attempted; and
(c) should not include a description or portrayal of an event, or an opinion, that is intended to make suicide appear glamorous or attractive.
Part 6—Advertising
22 Application
(1) This Part applies to the content and scheduling of an advertisement.
(2) The requirements in this Part are additional to the requirements in Part 4.
Note: Part 4 deals with advertising that is directed at children, or that appears in a children’s program.
23 Compliance with relevant Australian advertising codes
An advertisement should comply with the requirements of each applicable Australian advertising code of practice:
(a) as if the advertisement were to be broadcast in Australia; and
(b) whether or not the code is expressed to be binding on the advertisers and advertisements to which it relates.
Note: The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) is an industry body that has adopted a range of codes of practice and advertising standards that apply to all advertising in Australia. The website of the AANA is www.aana.com.au.
24 Tobacco products
An advertisement should not attempt to sell, to promote, or to recommend, cigarettes, cigars, e‑cigarettes, tobacco or a tobacco product.
Note: The Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 provides for the prohibition of the publishing of tobacco and e‑cigarette advertisements.
25 Content and scheduling of advertising
An advertisement’s content and scheduling should be appropriate having regard to:
(a) current Australian community attitudes; and
(b) the need, in accordance with those standards, to limit the exposure of children to matter that is only appropriate to an adult audience.
Part 7—Assessing and scheduling matter for radio and television
26 General guideline
(1) An international broadcasting licensee should schedule matter only after taking into account the likely cultural sensitivities of the international audience.
(2) In particular, the licensee should take the following into account:
(a) the major component of the audience; and
(b) if the matter is broadcast when the audience would reasonably be expected to include a significant number of children, whether the matter would be distressing or harmful to children; and
(c) if the matter is primarily directed at children, whether the matter deals with a topic in a manner that has sufficient regard to the healthy educational, emotional and physical development of children; and
(d) if the audience is located in more than one time zone, the composition of the audience in each zone.
(3) If the matter is a program promotion, news update or news flash that is to be broadcast during the broadcast of a film to which section 27 applies, the licensee should also take into account whether the matter is consistent with the assessment of the film under that section.
27 Assessment of classification of television films
(1) If an international broadcasting licensee proposes to broadcast a film or a drama program on television, the licensee should deal with the film or program in accordance with the classification given to it under the classification system.
(2) The film or drama program should not be broadcast if it would be classified R, X or RC.
28 Assessment of suitability of television films
(1) If a film may be broadcast in accordance with section 27, the international broadcasting licensee that proposes to broadcast it should also assess whether the film is suitable for the major component of the international audience.
(2) The assessment should be completed before the film is broadcast.
(3) If the film would be classified M or MA under the classification system, the film is not suitable for the major component of the international audience if that audience is likely to include a significant number of children.
(4) If the film is not suitable for the major component of the international audience, the licensee should make every reasonable effort to modify the film to make it suitable.
29 Markings and warnings for television films
(1) If a film or a drama program may be broadcast in accordance with section 27, the international broadcasting licensee should, as part of the broadcast:
(a) display each marking that is required under the classification system; and
(b) make each warning or statement that is required under the system.
Note: See section 8 of the Classification Act.
(2) The marking, warning or statement should be shown or made in the way that is required under the classification system.
30 Advice on unclassified matter on television
(1) This section applies to matter (other than a film that may be broadcast in accordance with section 27) if:
(a) the matter is likely to seriously offend or distress a substantial component of the international audience; and
(b) the broadcast of the matter is in the public interest; and
(c) sections 20 and 21 do not apply.
Note: Sections 20 and 21 deal with certain matters in news and current affairs.
(2) Before the matter is broadcast:
(a) the audience should be warned about the nature of the matter; and
(b) the warning should give a member of the audience a reasonable opportunity to avoid seeing or hearing the matter before it is broadcast; and
(c) the warning should not include anything that is likely to seriously offend or distress a substantial component of the international audience; and
(d) the warning should be broadcast in an audio or visual format that is presented at a time, and in a manner, that is likely to be understood by that audience.
31 Scheduling television advertising
(1) This section applies if an advertisement:
(a) is to be broadcast on television; and
(b) contains matter that is likely to be of particular concern or sensitivity to a component of the international audience.
(2) The advertisement should be scheduled in a way that reduces the concern or sensitivity as much as practicable.
Part 8—Additional guidelines for radio
32 Application
(1) This Part applies to matter that is to be broadcast by radio.
(2) The requirements in this Part are additional to the requirements in other Parts of these guidelines.
33 Offensive language on radio
The matter should not include language that is:
(a) gratuitous to the matter, or the theme of the matter; and
(b) likely to offend the international audience.
34 Sexual acts on radio
The matter should not include sound that relates to a sexual act.
35 Sexual themes on radio
(1) This section applies to matter that:
(a) is the content of a feature program, or a promotion for a feature program; and
(b) has an explicit sexual theme as its core component.
(2) The matter may be broadcast if:
(a) the broadcast is in the public interest; or
(b) the matter is included in a discussion or debate about current events.
(3) In any other case, the international broadcasting licensee that proposes to broadcast the matter should not decide whether to broadcast the matter until the licensee has had regard to the composition of the major component of the international audience.
(4) If the licensee decides to broadcast the matter, in accordance with subsection (2) or (3):
(a) the licensee should broadcast a warning that gives a reasonable indication of the nature of the matter:
(i) before any broadcast of the matter; and
(ii) at hourly intervals during any broadcast of the matter; and
(b) each warning should be broadcast in the principal language used in the broadcast.
(5) A warning should not include anything that is likely to seriously offend or distress a substantial component of the international audience.
Part 9—Complaints
36 Complaints procedures
(1) An international broadcasting licensee should establish and maintain a written procedure to handle a complaint made to the licensee about the international broadcasting service operated by the licensee.
(2) The procedure should ensure that the licensee:
(a) makes every reasonable effort to respond to a complaint unless it is clearly frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith; and
(b) makes every reasonable effort to correct, at the earliest practicable opportunity, a significant error of fact in matter broadcast by the licensee, whether or not the error is the subject of a complaint; and
(c) gives a suitable remedy in relation to a justified complaint.
Note: Examples of remedies include:
1 Broadcasting a reply.
2 Broadcasting an apology.
3 Removing offensive material from matter.
(3) The procedure should also provide for complaints that are made by telephone by ensuring that the licensee:
(a) makes every reasonable effort to satisfy the complaint during a telephone call; but
(b) is able to ask the complainant to make the complaint in writing if it is not practicable to satisfy the complaint during the telephone call.
(4) The procedure should also provide for complaints that are made by ensuring that the licensee acknowledges a complaint, and answers it in writing, within 30 days after receiving the complaint.
(5) The procedure should use the language of the major component of the international audience.
(6) The procedure may deal with matters other than those set out in subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5).
37 Publicity for complaints procedures
(1) An international broadcasting licensee should regularly give the following information to the international audience:
(a) the existence of the complaints procedures mentioned in section 36; and
(b) information that would enable a complaint to be made to the licensee, including the licensee’s:
(i) street address; and
(ii) e‑mail address; and
(iii) telephone number.
(2) The licensee:
(a) should give the information during broadcasts that are under the licensee’s control; and
(b) should give the information using the language of the major component of the international audience; and
(c) may also give the information in other ways.
38 Records of complaints
(1) An international broadcasting licensee should keep a record of each complaint that the licensee receives about:
(a) an international broadcasting service that is operated by the licensee; or
(b) matter that is broadcast on the service.
(2) The record of a complaint should include at least the following information:
(a) the name or nature of the broadcast to which the complaint relates, and the date on which the broadcast happened;
(b) the day, and the time at which, the complaint was received by the licensee;
(c) the name, and address or telephone number, of the complainant (if they have given that information to the licensee);
(d) a brief statement of the substance of the complaint;
(e) a brief statement of the substance of the response by the licensee to the complaint and the date on which the licensee responded to the complaint.
39 Retention of and access to records of complaints
(1) An international broadcasting licensee must retain records required under section 38 for a period of two years after the date on which the complaint was received.
(2) If the ACMA asks an international broadcasting licensee, in writing, to inspect a record mentioned in section 38 that is kept by the licensee, the licensee should, within a reasonable time after the request is made, produce the record (or a copy of the record) to the ACMA.
(3) If an international broadcasting licensee keeps records under subsection (1) it should take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances:
(a) to protect the information from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure; and
(b) to ensure the information is disposed of, or destroyed, in a secure manner where the record is no longer necessary under this instrument or any other applicable laws.
Part 10—Conduct of an international broadcasting licensee
40 Control of matter
An international broadcasting licensee should make every reasonable effort to ensure that:
(a) matter that the licensee broadcasts complies with each requirement of these guidelines that applies to the matter; and
(b) each broadcast that is made under the licensee’s control complies with each requirement of these guidelines that applies to broadcasting.
41 Offences against laws
An international broadcasting licensee should not use an international broadcasting service in the commission of an offence against the law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.
42 Intellectual property rights
An international broadcasting licensee should:
(a) respect the intellectual property rights that exist in matter; and
(b) not broadcast a program that includes matter that infringes the intellectual property rights of any person.
Part 11—Applicants for an international broadcasting licence
43 Commitment to guidelines
(1) If an applicant for an international broadcasting licence commits in their application to abide by these guidelines, this will be taken into account for the purposes of preparing a report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs under section 121FB of the Act regarding the allocation of a licence.
(2) If an applicant for an international broadcasting licence does not commit in their application to abide by these guidelines, this will be taken into account for the purposes of preparing a report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs under section 121FB of the Act regarding the allocation of a licence.