ACMA finds against radio station after staffer believed they were fired for political views

Sydney community broadcaster Radio Skid Row 88.9FM has been found in breach of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 after failing to follow its own disciplinary procedures in the dismissal of a volunteer presenter.

An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) concluded that the station’s handling of the matter left the presenter believing they had been dismissed for political and cultural views, even though the content of the station’s policies and procedures did not impose restrictions on participation for those reasons.

ACMA’s findings

The ACMA found that Radio Skid Row did not provide the presenter with clear reasons for the dismissal or offer a right of appeal. This failure created a perception of barriers to participation within the station, particularly around political and cultural beliefs.

A separate investigation into on-air content at Radio Skid Row did not identify breaches of the community broadcasting codes of practice.

Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasised the importance of inclusivity in community radio.

“Community radio stations also have a responsibility to encourage broad participation from the communities they serve. This is particularly important when the community radio station is serving a wide and diverse community such as Radio Skid Row is,” she said.

“When stations fail to follow their own disciplinary procedures, it can create barriers to participation and discourage community involvement. This is the opposite of what community broadcasting is intended to achieve.”

Station response and next steps

Radio Skid Row has accepted the ACMA’s findings and outlined steps to strengthen its processes.

The station has used Fair Work resources to improve volunteer and member management, reviewed its policies and procedures for clarity, and clarified the programming committee’s role in managing conflicts.

Training will also be rolled out for all new and existing volunteers and members on policies and procedures. Board members and management will undergo additional training on risk, psychosocial hazards and privacy obligations.

The station has agreed to provide ACMA with progress reports on these measures and will report any disciplinary actions in 2026 and 2027.

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