Where to complain
If your complaint is about ADVERTISING material pertaining to:
Section 2 of the AANA Code of Ethics
- Portrayal of sex/sexuality/nudity
- Portrayal of People
- Language
- Violence
- Health & Safety
FCAI Voluntary Code of Practice for Motor Vehicle Advertising
- unsafe driving that would breach Commonwealth law or State/Territory law
- depiction of speeding
- depiction of people driving while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol
- deliberate and significant environmental damage
- issues of clarity concerning motor sport in advertising
Advertising Code for Advertising and Marketing Communications to Children
- promotion of unsafe or dangerous behaviour/activity
- the portrayal of unsafe or dangerous products
- social values
- alarm & distress to children
- issues of undermining the authority of parents or carers
- unclear pricing
- unclear qualifying statements
- unclear competition rules and information
- false or misleading impressions of the products
- any relation to alcohol
- promotion of inactive lifestyle combined with unhealthy eating habits
AFGC Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative of the Australian Food and Beverage Industry
Advertisements for food and beverage products to children under 12 in media that do not:
- present healthy dietary choices, consistent with established scientific or Australian Government standards
AND - reference a healthy lifestyle, designed to appeal to the audience through messaging that encourages
- good dietary habits, consistent with established scientific or government criteria
- physical activity
Australian Quick Service Restaurant Industry Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children
The Initiative establishes a common framework for advertising and marketing communications to children under 14 years of age:
• to ensure that only food and beverages that represent healthier choices are advertised to children, and
• to help parents and guardians make informed product choices for their children.
you may direct your complaint to the Advertising Standards Bureau.
Truth and Accuracy issues such as:
- Advertisements that do not comply with Commonwealth law or the relevant State/Territory law.
- Misleading or deceptive advertising
- Misrepresentation in advertising, which is likely to cause damage to the business or goodwill of the competitor
- The exploitation of community concerns in relation to portraying a product or service as benefiting the environment, if it does not.
- Advertisements which make claims about the Australian origin or content of products in a manner which is misleading.
should be directed to your State/Territory Department of Fair Trading or the ACCC.
If you are an advertiser and wish to complain about the conduct of a competitor, you may wish to contact the Advertising Claims Board.
Television programming or program content issues such as:
- Content of a program or promotion eg sex, nudity, violence, coarse language
- Content of news & current affairs eg accuracy, fairness, invasion of privacy, objections to presenters/personalities
- Content in general eg: repeats, amount of sport or other program types, general scheduling complaints or other comments/enquiries in relation to a program
- The number of commercials shown in a program
- The placement of a commercial (the time and the program the commercial was shown); and
- Television show promotion eg. advertisement for a television program on that station
Commercial television - please direct your complaint to the broadcaster in writing.
ABC or SBS Content - please direct your complaint to the ABC or the SBS in writing.
Subscription Television and Radio Content - please direct your complaint to the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) after first contacting the station or broadcaster.
If you are unhappy with the broadcaster's response, or the station does not answer your complaint in 60 days, you may wish to contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). You must contact the station or broadcaster FIRST.
Radio programming or program content - please direct your complaint to the station first. Find a station at Commercial Radio Australia.
If you are unhappy with the broadcaster's response or the station does not answer your complaint in 60 days, you may wish to contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). You must contact the station or broadcaster FIRST.
Program Classification
- Accuracy, fairness and respect for privacy in news and current affairs;
- Non-program time on television; and
- Placement of commercials and program promotions in regard to commercial free-to-air television
Please direct your complaint to FreeTV Australia.
Alcohol
Your complaint may be directed to the Advertising Standards Bureau.
Classifications of films or computer games
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) is an agency within the Commonwealth Attorney-General's portfolio which processes applications, provides services to OFLC clients and the community, offers classification training programs, and is involved in developing classification policy. The OFLC is staffed by Australian Public Service employees who provide administrative support to the Classification Board and Classification Review Board.
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Issues
If your complaint is regarding discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin, racial vilification, sex, sexual harassment, marital status, pregnancy or disability, you may wish to direct your complaint to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Internet Issues and Lobbying
If you wish to support or find out more information about Internet regulation and initiatives in Australia, you may wish to visit the Internet Industry Association's website.
Telemarketing
You may wish to contact the Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) to remove your name from marketing lists which use your name, phone numbers and email details. The contact phone number is 1800 676 136. ADMA looks after direct marketing in Australia and issues such as privacy, telecommunications regulation, postal affairs, consumer satisfaction, fair trading and e-marketing.
You may also wish to register your number on the Do Not Call Register by phoning 1300 792 958. You can also do this online - go to www.donotcall.gov.au.
Telephone advertising and premium rate telephone information services
The Telephone Information Services Standards Council (TISSC) is an independent regulatory body funded by the telephone information services industry. It sets standards, in the form of a Code of Practice, for the message content and advertising of premium rate telephone information services, including numbers beginning with the prefixes 190 and 01972. The Arbitrator assesses complaints about breaches of the Telephone Information Services Standards Council Code. It does not deal with billing disputes.
Telephone/Internet Disputes
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is a free and independent alternative dispute resolution scheme for small business and residential consumers in Australia with unresolved complaints about their telephone or internet services. Before contacting the TIO, you must have tried to resolve your complaint with your provider. They have the jurisdiction to deal with complaints concerning:
Therapeutic Goods
Advertisements for therapeutic goods in Australia are subject to the requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Act and Regulations, the Trade Practices Act and other relevant laws. Advertisements directed to consumers must also comply with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. For further information, go to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Weight management products or services
If you have a complaint about weight management products or services, you may wish to direct your complaint to the Weight Management Council. They regulate in accordance to the price, benefit, need and cost of weight products and services in advertising, as well as truth and accuracy.