ABC Editorial Policies

NB: This Guidance Note is provided to assist interpretation of the Editorial Policies in the context of coverage of Federal, State and Territory Elections. Identifying electoral commentary published on ABC websites and ABC social media accounts The ABC is not required to name or identify individuals posting comments on the ABC’s website or on its official social media pages.2 However, it would nevertheless be good practice to ensure that every ABC webpage and ABC social media account that posts or hosts electoral material relating to a federal, state or territory election clearly identify the ABC as the responsible operator. Free-time party election broadcasts Allocation to eligible parties Eligible political parties may be allocated free broadcast time on ABC1 and ABC Local Radio to broadcast policy announcements. Requests for assistance in producing free time party election broadcasts When a party representative asks to use ABC studio facilities to produce a free-time party election broadcast that will air on ABC TV or ABC Radio, refer to the ABC’s Production Guidelines for Free Broadcasts by Political Parties, a copy of which is provided to parties prior to the allocation of free time. The ABC is not required to comply with these provisions because: the ABC does not broadcast or publish paid electoral the ABC does not broadcast or publish paid electoral the ABC has a broad discretion under section 79A, 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; 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, the ABC is instead required to comply with similar identification provisions under section 79A-, ABC Act; and in relation to election broadcasts, the ABC is instead required to comply with similar identification provisions under section 79A-, 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.