responsiveness to events and issues as and when they arise; and
good-faith efforts to fairly and accurately obtain, scrutinise and report the actions and policies of those seeking election, especially those parties with a practical prospect of forming the next Government.
thoughtful attention to issues of style and tone which may inadvertently colour perceptions of impartiality. For instance, don’t sign off an interview with a candidate with a phrase like ‘good luck’. While you’re only meaning to be polite, it could well sound too encouraging to some of your audience.
Do not damage the ABC’s reputation for impartiality and independence.
Do not undermine your effectiveness at work.
Do not mix the professional and the personal in ways likely to bring the ABC into disrepute.
Do not imply ABC endorsement of your personal views.
Do not disclose confidential information obtained through work
the bulk of the time is given to the parties which, if successful, would be in a position to form government; and
the criteria to determine time given to minor or new parties deal not just with existing representation but also consider the party’s degree of formal participation in the election (seats contested) and support state-wide (polls). For details, see ABC Board’s policy statement on allocating free election broadcast time to political parties.
Australian Communications and Media Authority, Election Guidelines, updated May 2023.
national broadcasters like the ABC are not in the list of broadcast licensees who are subject to the blackout provision; and, in any event, the ABC does not broadcast paid election advertisements. Election broadcasts on the ABC – that is, the time the ABC makes available to the parties for campaign launches and short announcements created by the parties themselves – are regulated under the ABC Act, which does not expressly restrict or “black out” election matters on the ABC at any time.
the ABC does not broadcast or publish paid electoral advertisements;
the ABC has a broad discretion under section 79A(1), ABC Act, to determine the manner and extent to which it broadcasts political matters;
national broadcasters like the ABC are not subject to the licence conditions in Schedule 2, Broadcasting Services Act, that apply to commercial, community and subscription broadcasters;
in relation to election broadcasts (or “political matter [broadcast] at the request of another person”), the ABC is instead required to comply with similar identification provisions under section 79A(2)-(5), ABC Act; and
in relation to electoral material published online, the Commonwealth legislation does not apply in any event to material that forms part of a general commentary on a website: section 328A, Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.This exclusion of online commentary is consistent with the treatment of “letters to the editor” in newspapers and talkback callers on radio – none of which are required by law to be identified during an election.