Media watchdog wins legal battle over suppressed Today’s Hit Network nurse prank call report
Christian and Grieg
The High Court has given the green light to media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to publish a controversial report into the prank call by two Today’s Hit Network DJs which led to the suicide of a British nurse.
Today’s unanimous ruling could allow the ACMA to take the Southern Cross Austereo station off-air as punishment for broadcasting the December 2012 prank call which saw hosts Mel Greig and Michael ‘MC’ Christian, who were impersonating Prince Charles and The Queen, put through to the ward where the then pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for acute morning sickness.
Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who put the call through to the ward, took her own life days later.
So the police have concluded that the incident didn’t breach the act but if ACMA believe otherwise then they have the power to impose penalties? Im sorry, that is just madness!
Why don’t the ACMA have the sense to leave this alone?! Hosts Mel Greig & Michael Christian have suffered enough without having to feel responsible for further ramifications. (Even though I will never believe that Jacintha Saldanha choose to end her life based on this event). I wish Mel & Michael every success in the future & hope this event can be put behind them.
Nothing of any great significance will come of this though. It will be the equivalent of being flogged with a wet lettuce leaf. A slap over the wrist and a wagging figure with a voice saying “don’t do it again”.
Hayley – let me get this straight…… you want to live in a society where all private telephone conversations between innocent parties can be recorded and broadcast to the world without the consent of the parties? just so a radio station can make a couple more bucks?
think about the private conversations you might have had with your family, your doctor, your accountant, your local politician, you boss, your colleagues…..
sou
Thank goodness. Shut down 2DayFM.
The State police have no jurisdiction outside of NSW and the call occurred in the UK.
Legalese – No, that was not my point at all.
I am concerned for the well being of Mel Greig & Michael Christian.
Listien; Media Report, Radio National.