Ray Hadley’s ‘low-life dog’ comments breached radio’s decency requirements
Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley breached broadcasting decency requirements when he referred to a social media user as a “flea” and “low-life dog”, the regulator has found.
The chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Nerida O’Loughlin said the comments were not appropriate for public radio broadcasting in Australia.
Hadley has been called out by the watchdog
The comments were made in response to a social media user who allegedly made a remark about Hadley’s granddaughter.
“The ACMA recognises that Mr Hadley was being defensive of his granddaughter, however it is not appropriate for him to use his position as a public broadcaster to direct threatening comments towards an individual,” she said.
The comments, ACMA said, breached the generally accepted standards of decency under the Commercial Radio Code of Practice. It is The Ray Hadley Morning Show’s first breach of the decency provisions.
The segment went to air on Southern Cross Austereo’s Triple M 105.1 Central West, despite Hadley being a 2GB broadcaster. Triple M Central West thus referred the matter to 2GB’s owner Nine Radio, with both Hadley and staff across both stations being counselled.
Central West will ensure its legal compliance training for staff will reference the incident.
The social media user’s comment hasn’t been shown so who owns the high ground here?
User ID not verified.