“The Voice of the North” Breached Code

4CA Cairns breached the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice in relation to Accuracy On-Air.

Back in early December 2013, 4CA Morning Show host John MacKenzie said that crime rates in Aboriginal Communities in Cape York were “30 times greater than ours.”

It was made during a chat with the Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority found the 4CA breached clause 2.2 of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2013 as it was not able to demonstrate that in the preparation and presentation of the program it had used reasonable efforts to ensure that the factual statement was reasonably supportable as being accurate.

With the ACMA finding, Grant Broadcasters the owners of 4CA have counselled John and as it the first Code breach by licensee in six years, they have not taken any further action.

ACMA also found that they did not breach the complaints-handling clause of the code, which states that a licensee is required to respond to complaints within 30 business days of receiving one.

You can view the full investigation here and the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice here.