The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ruled against two broadcasts of 2GB’s Alan Jones Breakfast Show, which it said breached its accuracy obligations.
ACMA found 2GB did not make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of comments made by Jones (pictured) in October 2012 about power station closures. Here, ACMA said the sources relied on by 2GB were contradicted by primary material readily available on the website of the owner of the power stations.
Meanwhile, ACMA ruled against comments made Jones later the same month about salaries paid in the Department of Climate Change. Here, ACMA said there was no evidence of 2GB’s efforts to ensure the accuracy of the comments.
A third complaint about the accuracy of comments made by Jones soon after concerning the NBN and other matters was not upheld.
In response to the second charge, 2GB said it was not obliged to respond to a complaint it considered frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of the complaints process.
ACMA did not accept this submission as the Codes require licensees to provide a substantive response to a complaint, including information about the complainant’s right to refer the matter to ACMA.
In these two matters ACMA found that 2GB was obliged to give a substantive response and breached the code when it failed to do so.
