The summer 30 Royal Prank call: Outcomes for Australian broadcasting regulation

Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
Journal of Media Law, 2015, 7 (1), pp. 92 - 107
Issue Date:
2015-01-01
Full metadata record
© 2015 Taylor & Francis. The prank call by two Sydney radio presenters who tried to speak to the Duchess of Cambridge in November 2012 was followed by the death of nurse, Jacintha Saldanha. It prompted a long-running investigation by Australia’s broadcasting regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, into the decision to record and broadcast, without consent, conversations with Ms Saldanha and another nurse. In March 2015 the High Court of Australia held the ACMA did not require a prior decision of a court in order to find the licensee, Today FM, used the broadcasting service in the commission of an offence under surveillances devices legislation. This cleared the way for the ACMA to find Today FM breached a condition of its license. The case resolves a question concerning the ACMA’s formal powers, but the investigation also reveals deficiencies in the industry-based codes of practice.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: