23 November 1999

ABA Expands Commercial Radio Inquiry to include 3AW Melbourne

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has extended the terms of reference for its commercial radio inquiry to include 3AW Melbourne.

The revised terms of reference for the inquiry, which now include the terms and circumstances of any arrangements, agreements or understandings entered into by or on behalf of 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited or Mr Steve Price concerning the content of any program, comment or discussion to be broadcast on Radio 3AW, are attached.

The ABA has issued notices today under s. 173 of the Broadcasting Services Act to 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Ltd to produce any documents that it may have in its possession relevant to the revised terms of reference.

BACKGROUNDER

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INVESTIGATION BY THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING AUTHORITY UNDER DIVISION 2 OF PART 13 OF THE BROADCASTING SERVICES ACT 1992

WHEREAS the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 ("the Act"):

• includes within its objects

(i) to encourage providers of commercial broadcasting services to be responsive to the need for fair and accurate coverage of matters of public interest; and

(ii) to encourage providers of broadcasting services to respect community standards in the provision of program material;

• charges the Australian Broadcasting Authority with the responsibility for monitoring the broadcasting industry; and
• confers on the Australian Broadcasting Authority a range of functions and powers that are to be used by the Australian Broadcasting Authority in a manner that, in its opinion, will produce regulatory arrangements that are stable and predictable and deal effectively with breaches of the rules established by the Act;

E NOTICE that for the purposes of the performance of its functions:

(a) to suspend and cancel licences and to take other enforcement action under the Act;

(b) to collect fees payable in respect of licences;

(c) to monitor compliance with codes of practice;

(d) to develop program standards relating to broadcasting in Australia; and

(e) to monitor, and report to the Minister on, the operation of the Act; the Australian

Broadcasting Authority will conduct an investigation under Division 2 of Part 13 of the Act into the following matters:

(f) the terms and circumstances of any arrangements, agreements or understandings entered into by or on behalf of;

(i) Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited

(ii) Mr John Laws; or

(iii) any other presenter on radio 2UE; or a corporation associated with any of the above persons, with any third party or parties concerning the content of any program, comment or discussion to be broadcast on radio 2UE pursuant to the commercial broadcasting licence granted to Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited last renewed by the ABA on 23 August 1996;

(g) the effect of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding on the content of programs, comments or discussions broadcast on radio 2UE from 5 October 1992 to the date of commencement of this investigation;

(h) whether any consideration paid to or for the benefit of Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited pursuant to any such agreement, arrangement or understanding has been included in the gross earnings of Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited in:

(i) the financial accounts of Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited; and

(ii) the statutory declarations made by or on behalf of Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited; pursuant to section 205B of the Act; and

(i) whether Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited remains a suitable licensee within the meaning of section 41 of the Act.

Radio 5AD (5ADD) and Radio 5DN

(j) the terms and circumstances of any arrangements, agreements or understandings entered into by or on behalf of;

(i) 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd;

(ii) Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd; or

(iii) Mr Jeremy Cordeaux;

or a corporation associated with any of the above persons, with any third party or parties concerning the content of any program, comment or discussion to be broadcast on

• Radio 5AD (also known as 5ADD) pursuant to the commercial broadcasting licence granted to 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd last renewed by the ABA on 4 October 1997; or
• Radio 5DN pursuant to the commercial broadcasting licence granted to Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd last renewed by the ABA on 31 July 1997.

(k) the effect of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding on the content of programs, comments or discussions broadcast on Radio 5DN or Radio 5AD (also known as 5ADD) from 5 October 1992 to the date of commencement of this investigation;

(l) whether any consideration paid to or for the benefit of 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd pursuant to any such agreement, arrangement or understanding has been included in the gross earnings of 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd in:

i) the financial accounts of 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd; and

(ii) the statutory declarations made by or on behalf of 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd;

pursuant to section 205B of the Act; and

(m) whether 5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd remains a suitable licensee within the meaning of section 41 of the Act.

(n) whether any consideration paid to or for the benefit of Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd pursuant to any such agreement, arrangement or understanding has been included in the gross earnings of Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd in:

(i) the financial accounts of Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd ; and

(ii) the statutory declarations made by or on behalf of Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd;

pursuant to section 205B of the Act; and

(o) whether Southern State Broadcasters Pty Ltd remains a suitable licensee within the meaning of section 41 of the Act.

Radio 6PR

(p) the terms and circumstances of any arrangements, agreements or understandings entered into by or on behalf of;

(i) 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited; or

(ii) Mr Howard Sattler;

or a corporation associated with any of the above persons, with any third party or parties concerning the content of any program, comment or discussion to be broadcast on radio 6PR pursuant to the commercial broadcasting licence granted to 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited last renewed by the ABA on 6 May 1996;

(q) the effect of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding on the content of programs, comments or discussions broadcast on radio 6PR from 5 October 1992 to the date of commencement of this investigation;

(r) whether any consideration paid to or for the benefit of 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited pursuant to any such agreement, arrangement or understanding has been included in the gross earnings of 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited in:

(i) the financial accounts of 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited; and

(ii) the statutory declarations made by or on behalf of 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited;

pursuant to section 205B of the Act; and

(s) whether 6PR Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited remains a suitable licensee within the meaning of section 41 of the Act.

Radio 3AW

(t) the terms and circumstances of any arrangements, agreements or understandings entered into by or on behalf of;

(i) 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited; or

(ii) Mr Steve Price;

or a corporation associated with any of the above persons, with any third party or parties concerning the content of any program, comment or discussion to be broadcast on radio 3AW pursuant to the commercial broadcasting licence granted to 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited last renewed by the ABA on 18 February 1998;

(u) the effect of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding on the content of programs, comments or discussions broadcast on radio 3AW from 5 October 1992 to the date of commencement of this investigation;

(v) whether any consideration paid to or for the benefit of 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited pursuant to any such agreement, arrangement or understanding has been included in the gross earnings of 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited in:

(i) the financial accounts of 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited; and

(ii) the statutory declarations made by or on behalf of 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited;

pursuant to section 205B of the Act; and

(w) whether 3AW Southern Cross Radio Pty Limited remains a suitable licensee within the meaning of section 41 of the Act.

What we do l What's new l Search l Publications l Contact us l Home