Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 No. 6 of 1983 - SECT 82 Community Affairs Officers

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 No. 6 of 1983 - SECT 82

82. (1) Where a written complaint is made to the Corporation alleging-

   (a)  that an error of fact has occurred in a program, announcement or other
        matter broadcast or televised by the Corporation; or

   (b)  that an invasion of privacy has occurred in, or in connection with the
        preparation of, a program, announcement or other matter broadcast or
        televised by the Corporation, the complaint shall be referred as soon
        as practicable to a Community Affairs Officer appointed in accordance
        with this section.

(2) A Community Affairs Officer is not required to investigate a complaint if,
in his opinion-

   (a)  the complaint is frivolous or vexatious, or was not made in good
        faith; or

   (b)  the complainant does not have a sufficient interest in the subject
        matter of the complaint.

(3) The Managing Director shall-

   (a)  on the recommendation of-

        (i)    the Advisory Council established in relation to the State or
               Territory concerned; or

        (ii)   if no such Advisory Council has been established-the Australian
               Broadcasting Corporation Advisory Council,

appoint, in each State, in the Northern Territory and in the Australian
Capital Territory, a person or persons, to be known as Community Affairs
Officers, to consider complaints mentioned in sub-section (1); and

   (b)  on the recommendation of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
        Advisory Council, appoint an officer of the Corporation, to be known
        as the Principal Community Affairs Officer, whose duties will consist
        of or include the co-ordination of the activities of the Community
        Affairs Officers.

(4) Where a complaint is referred to a Community Affairs Officer in accordance
with sub-section (1), he shall, as soon as practicable after the complaint is
referred to him, inquire whether the complaint is justified and report his
findings to the Principal Community Affairs Officer.

(5) If, after receiving a report under sub-section (4), the Principal
Community Affairs Officer decides that a complaint is justified, he shall
inform the Managing Director, who shall ensure that the Corporation broadcasts
or televises, as the case requires, a prompt retraction or apology in
appropriate terms.

(6) As soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, the Principal Community
Affairs Officer shall prepare and furnish to the Managing Director for
inclusion in the annual report of the Corporation a summary of the activities
of the Community Affairs Officers during the year ending on that 30 June.