TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v. Australian Broadcasting Authority

This was an application by the television networks for judicial review of a decision of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (the Authority) that each of them had breached a licence condition by broadcasting a tobacco advertisement in contravention of s7(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth). (Under s42(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act it is a condition of a broadcasting licence that the licensee will not broadcast an advertisement in contravention of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 (Cth)).

In a "60 Minutes" program broadcast on 22 October 2000 the networks showed footage of Russell Crowe, in an interview, lighting and smoking a cigarette and holding a Marlboro cigarette packet. The following week, in the "Mailbag" segment of the "60 Minutes" program, the networks showed the same footage in response to two viewer complaints about the segment.

The Authority found that both segments were tobacco advertisements within the meaning of s9(1) of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act. It found that the tobacco advertisement in the first program fell within the exception of being an incidental accompaniment to the broadcast of other matter, for which no direct or indirect benefit was received by the networks. However, the Authority did not consider that the "Mailbag" segment fell within the same exception, and therefore that the networks had breached a condition of their licences in airing it.

The television networks applied for judicial review of the second finding.  Emmett J upheld the Authority's decision, finding that the Authority had made no error of law.

TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Authority [2002] FCA 896 (18 July 2002)

  • Australia
  • Jul 18, 2002
  • Federal Court of Australia
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Parties

Plaintiff

  • Channel 9 South Australia Pty Ltd
  • Queensland Television Limited
  • TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd

Defendant Australian Broadcasting Authority

Legislation Cited

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

None

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product

None

"The applicants contend that, in making its determination, the Authority took into account an irrelevant consideration, namely the consideration that “a non-breach decision may attract adverse public scrutiny” or that “a non-breach decision may attract adverse public comment” as set out in the agenda papers for the meetings held on 25 October 2001 and 8 October 2001 respectively. The chairman of the Authority, who made the decision as its delegate, was present at both of those meetings. I was invited to draw an inference that a concern about adverse publicity was taken into account by the Authority simply because Authority staff drew the attention of the members of the Authority to that consideration on two occasions in the course of deliberations. However, there is no reference in the Authority’s reasons to the possibility of adverse public scrutiny or adverse public comment. The reasons run to some twenty-six pages of analysis of the law and consideration of the tobacco advertisement and other material. I do not consider that such an inference is warranted. The only inference that I would draw from the inclusion of the references in the agenda papers is that the matter should be dealt with carefully and with due deliberation. I would not draw the inference that the decision maker had regard to the possibility of adverse public scrutiny or comment as a reason for making the determination of 29 November 2001."