Complaints - Television

Monitor what you watch on television...

Don't watch TV just for the sake of it - choose carefully, since a lot of programs on TV are unacceptable. Decide what your children watch and watch it with them so you know what is on the program.
If there is nothing suitable, please turn the TV to another channel or turn it off!

BUT don't JUST change the channel if the program is unacceptable. . .

Take some action!

These steps apply to programs and program promotions (ads for programs):

1. Phone the TV station to register your complaint
Obtain the phone number from the phone book or look it up online.
Click here for all the details of TV stations.
When you phone the station, also ask for the name of the Managing Director or CEO and the postal address.

2. Write to the TV Company's Managing Director/CEO
Write a letter about the program, identifying your concerns. ASK for a response.
The television station has 60 days to respond to your letter.

3. When the response arrives: writing to ACMA

If you are happy with the response - good!

If you are not happy with the response, write to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), detailing your concern.
Include a copy of your letter to the station and a copy of their response (if you write to ACMA first, they will tell you to complain to the station!).
Click here for TV station contact details.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)is an independent federal statutory authority responsible for the regulation of free-to-air radio and television, pay TV, digital broadcasting and internet content in Australia.
Click here for the ACMA website.

Central offices:
Canberra Central Office
Purple Building, Benjamin Offices, Chan Street, Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 78, Belconnen ACT 2616
Tel: 02 6219 5555
Fax: 02 6219 5200

Melbourne Central Office
Level 44, Melbourne Central Tower, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic. 3000
PO Box 13112 Law Courts, Melbourne Vic 8010
Tel: 03 9963 6800
Fax: 03 9963 6899
TTY: 03 9963 6948

Sydney Central Office
Level 15, Tower 1 Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box Q500, Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
Tel: 02 9334 7700
Fax 02 9334 7799

For more details, including a list of email addresses and Regional Offices, click here.

ACMA Complaint Process and Links:
Click here for a description and overview of the complaint processes.
Click here for radio and TV complaints (broadcasting).
Click here for the broadcasting complaint form.
Click here for information on prohibited internet/online content. Complaint process - click here.
Click here to make a complaint about internet gambling.
Click here for making a report on SPAM.
Click here to make a complaint about Telecommunications.
Click here for the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Codes of Practice

The ABC, SBS and the commercial television stations all have their own codes of practice that are monitored by separate bodies! These Codes describe the standards and complaint processes.

Commercial TV
Free TV (formerly the Federation of Commercial Television Stations (FACTS)) is the industry body representing the commercial TV stations.
They have a code of practice for commercial TV.
You can write to them with a complaint at 44 Avenue Rd, Mosman, NSW, 2088 or fax them on (02) 9969 3520.
Click here for the Free TV website.
The Code of Practice was registered by the ABA on 1 July 2004.
The Code is available online:
* Description of the code- contains links to pdf document of the Code of Practice.

ABC Code of Practice
Click here for the ABC Code of Practice.

SBS Code of Practice
Click here for the SBS Code of Practice.