Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00811:body:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C00811
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 14116–17115

(d) a current affairs program.

      5.2 General guideline

        A program should consist of matter that:
          (a) is presented accurately, having regard to the circumstances existing when the program is broadcast; and
          (b) represents opinions fairly, having regard to the circumstances existing when the program is broadcast; and
          (c) clearly distinguishes between factual material, simulation, and commentary and analysis; and
          (d) treats with sensitivity images of, or interviews with, bereaved people and survivors and witnesses of traumatic incidents.

      5.3 Impartiality

       (1) A program should be impartial.

       (2) As part of the assessment of impartiality in a program:
          (a) it is not necessary for the presenter or editorial staff involved in the program to be uncritical or unquestioning of an event or opinion; and
          (b) it is not necessary for the program to give equal time to the treatment of differing opinions about a matter.

      5.4 Balance

       (1) A program should be balanced.

       (2) As part of the assessment of balance in a program:
          (a) it is not necessary for the program to present all of the significant opinions about a matter; but
          (b) it is appropriate to consider whether all of the significant opinions will be presented in one or more similar programs within a reasonable period.

      Note   A program may be the first or last in a series of similar programs. The reasonable period in which all of the significant opinions should be presented may have started before the date of an individual program.

      5.5 Presentation of matter

       (1) The matter in a program should not be presented in a manner that is likely to cause a substantial component of the international audience to panic.

       (2) If a program includes matter about the behaviour of a group of people or businesses, the matter should not identify unfairly an individual member of the group.

       (3) A program should not include matter that identifies or depicts an individual or a group of people in a negative way, based on the gratuitous emphasis of any of the following attributes:
          (a) age;
          (b) colour;
          (c) gender;
          (d) national or ethnic origin;
          (e) physical or mental disability;
          (f) race;
          (g) religion;
          (h) sexual preference.

       (4) However, subsection (3) does not apply if the broadcast of the matter is in the public interest.

      5.6 Presentation of death or injury

       (1) This section applies to a program if the matter in the program is likely to include any of the following:
          (a) images of one or more dead people;
          (b) images of one or more seriously wounded or injured people;
          (c) images of one or more bereaved people;
          (d) an interview with one or more bereaved people.

       (2) The matter should be presented, as far as practicable,