The Australian Broadcasting Authority (commonly called the ABA in Australia) is an agency of the Australian federal government, responsible for regulating the television, radio, and Internet industries.

Its primary responsibilities are radio and television licensing (including broadcast spectrum licensing), and developing content restriction guidelines for television, radio, and Internet.

The ABA was created in the early 1990's to replace the old Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, which in turn replaced the Australian Broadcasting Control Board.

It has been criticised (most prominently by Media Watch) as ineffective, and reluctant or unable to take action against media transgressors. In 2004 its head David Flint was forced to resign after allegations that he had sent letters of 'gushing admiration' to talk-back radio host Alan Jones at a time when Jones was under investigation by the ABA. Media Watch is an Australian television series screening on the ABC. It currently screens from 9. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... David Flint is a prominent Australian legal academic, best known for his controversial tenure as head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and as one of Australias most prominent enthusiastic monarchists, in opposition to Australian republicanism. ... Alan Jones AO (b. ...

In 2005, the ABA will merge with the Australian Communications Authority to create the Australian Communications and Media Authority, a super-regulator along the same lines as Ofcom in the United Kingdom. The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is the Government of Australias regulator of radiocommunications and telecommunications. ... The Office of Communications, usually known as Ofcom, is the UKs communications regulator. ...

See also

• Censorship in Australia

Australia, like most countries, has rules that restrict or ban the production, sale, and distribution of some creative works, including books, magazines, movies, television, computer games, web site content, live theatre, music and other forms. ...

External links

• The ABA's web site