The ABC has announced a proposal to share its digital news content with local news outlets in regional, rural and remote Australia during major events affecting their communities.

Managing Director Hugh Marks flagged the plan in a speech to the ABC Friends NSW & ACT last night, saying the initiative would enhance Australians’ access to essential news and information as well as assisting the sustainability of local journalism provided by other outlets. 

Reporting from 68 sites throughout Australia, including 58 regional locations, the ABC has an unmatched newsgathering presence.  

Outlets participating in the project would have access to ABC NEWS digital news content on significant events, such as road, rail and air incidents, extreme weather events, public health crises, violent protests, major power outages, telecommunications failures and transport system shutdowns.  

The proposal builds on the ABC’s longstanding commitment to collaborate with media in the interests of audiences, from partnerships in the South Pacific to Indigenous media associations and community broadcasting.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks: “The ABC is the most trusted source of news during major events. By sharing our content with regional outlets we’re ensuring every Australian can access reliable information about breaking events affecting their community. 

“This initiative will also help strengthen the sustainability of local journalism. Newsroom cutbacks have made it increasingly difficult for local news providers, potentially leading to significant gaps in coverage. I’m committed to leading an ABC that supports local news sustainability.” 

ABC Director, News Justin Stevens: “This is the coverage in which the ABC excels – using its unrivalled news network to provide reliable, high-quality news and information to regional communities while adding important context for national audiences. 

“We recognise local producers don’t always have the resources to do this type of reporting and it’s in the national interest to reach as many Australians as possible.” 

The initiative is informed by the Australian Local News Resilience Project, an ABC-backed Australian Research Council project led by Deakin University with Griffith University. It identified emergency news coverage as a priority area for collaboration between regional news producers and the ABC.

It’s estimated that since 2019 more than 200 local newspapers in regional Australia have significantly cut their service or closed. The loss of outlets means fewer journalists, decreased media diversity and less original reporting and genuine local news. It affects the talent pipeline for professional journalism in Australia and increases the community’s vulnerability to disinformation and misinformation.

Professor Kristy Hess, Deakin University, Project Lead on the Australian Local News Resilience Project: “Sharing emergency content will help many small local news producers whose resources are often stretched to the limit.

“During these times local journalists are on the ground reporting, as well as trying to cover all the other local news relevant to their area, so this content will enhance the quality of coverage for the benefit of communities.”

To be eligible to join the scheme, outlets would have to be a genuine media organisation providing a reputable public news service to an established audience, have a robust system for handling complaints and be a member of a relevant media association.

The ABC will continue consulting with regional providers on how to implement the scheme during 2026.

Outcomes of our 2025 investigations

Program or issue	Station/licensee	Description	Outcome	Report published
Licence condition matter	Sutherland Shire Community Radio Association Inc. (2SSR)	Time limit on sponsorship announcement	Breach of paragraph 9(3)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BSA(ref. BI-747 and BI-748)	3 October 2025

Outcomes of our 2025 investigations

Program or issue	Station/licensee	Description	Outcome	Report published
The Kyle & Jackie O Show	KIIS 1065 / Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation Pty Ltd	Decency, complaints handling	Breaches of 2.2 [generally accepted standards of decency]Breach of 10.11 [respond to complaint in 30 days] of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2017(ref. ACMA report)	1 October 2025
The Kyle & Jackie O Show	KIIS 1011 / Double T Radio Pty Ltd	Decency, complaints handling	Breaches of 2.2 [generally accepted standards of decency]Breach of 10.11 [respond to complaint in 30 days] of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2017(ref. ACMA report)

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found multiple breaches of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice in broadcasts of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, following extensive investigations into content that went to air between August and December 2024.

The ACMA’s investigations resulted in breach findings against the broadcast licensees, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation Pty Ltd (KIIS 106.5) and Double T Radio Pty Ltd (KIIS 101.1). The Australian Radio Network (ARN) is the owner of the KIIS network.

The ACMA found three breaches of decency rules by the Melbourne licensee, KIIS 101.1, for content broadcast on the program, as well as a breach of the complaint handling rules.

The ACMA found four breaches of the decency rules by the Sydney licensee, KIIS 106.5, as well as a breach of the complaint handling rules.

Content from the investigated broadcasts included:

• Two episodes of a guessing game where audio clips of male and female staff members urinating were aired, with hosts guessing which audio belonged to which staff member. Both episodes included comments about the genitals of participants, and in the female staff member episode, graphic comments about menstruation and oral sex.
• A game where a contestant provided an offensive description of a sexual position.
• A segment which contained lewd discussions about masturbation and pornography websites.

These investigations are in addition to earlier 2025 investigations, which found three breaches of the Commercial Radio Code of Practice. In total, the ACMA has found 12 breaches this year alone.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the findings into the Kyle & Jackie O Show indicate there are systemic issues with the program.

“The Kyle & Jackie O Show has repeatedly and deliberately aired content that is vulgar, sexually explicit and deeply offensive,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

“Even after previous breaches and the employment of additional censors required by the ACMA, the program continues to broadcast content that is unacceptable to the community.

“ARN as the licensee of these stations appears unwilling or unable to rein in these presenters. As a result, the ACMA is currently considering enforcement actions so that ARN takes full responsibility for the content broadcast on their stations,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

When Leroy Creed-Jones stepped onto the AFTRS campus in Sydney in February this year, he wasn’t just starting a new course – he was stepping into a new chapter of his life. After nearly a decade away from work and study, the Pitta Pitta, Kalkadoon, Gungarri and Quandamooka man from Brisbane found himself surrounded by community, opportunity and optimism for the future. 

“I’d become pretty much a homebody, and I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere staying in Brisbane,” Leroy said. “With a passion for radio I saw this as a big opportunity for me to make something of myself.”  

Encouraged by his brother Kerrod Meredith-Creed – an AFTRS graduate who now works in the School’s First Nations team – Leroy successfully applied for the Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting (GDRP), thinking he might do it part-time and even online. But at First Nations Orientation Week (held the week before whole-of-School Orientation) he felt so at home he decided to stay. And a big part of that feeling came from meeting “brother” Micah Kickett, a Wilyakali man from Broken Hill, who opted for part-time remote study while working in Canberra. 

While their journeys are different, their connection was instant and their bond with each other – and subsequently with fellow students and lecturers – has helped them to thrive throughout the course.   

Micah Kickett

“Because I’ve got a full-time job and other things that I do … sometimes it feels like it gets a bit too much,” Micah said. “But then when I speak to Leroy, it kind of gives me that sense of hope to be like, ‘Nah, if brother can do it, I can do it too’.  

“Even though I’m an online student and Leroy is on campus, it really helps just knowing that I’ve got him there. We chat constantly and keep each other informed, and if I’m struggling I’ll just call him.” 

After studying media and law at university, Micah spent eight years practicing as a lawyer. But the “burning desire” for a more creative path was always in the back of his mind. In 2019, he gave stand-up comedy a go – a bold step towards something different – but it still didn’t quite scratch the itch. One day while driving to work a strong feeling of “uncertainty” came over him that led to a sequence of events that would change his life’s course. 

“I didn’t go into work that day,” Micah recalled. “I took a left turn, then a right turn, and I rolled into the ABC. I’m like, ‘Hey I’m Micah Kickett, is there any way I could get some experience?’ They gave me a microphone and said, ‘Here you go, get some interviews’.” 

Micah got back in the car and immediately heard a radio announcement calling for trainee radio broadcasters at a community station. So he went straight there, signed up for the training and 10 weeks later was a lawyer by day and community radio volunteer broadcaster by night. This, along with his freelance ABC interviews, led to his current job as the CBAA First Nations Affairs Reporter at Parliament House. 

Micah then met Kerrod and GDRP Course Convenor Natalie Pozdeev at a CBAA conference and realised AFTRS would be the perfect career complement to “learn about podcasting and sharpen my skills”.  

Leroy Creed-Jones | Photo by Flore Vallery-Radot

Leroy, who had previously studied screen media at the Bachelor Institute, said the GDRP also sparked a deeper curiosity in podcasting for him, and broadened his understanding of the wider world of audio storytelling and career possibilities. 

“When I first came to AFTRS I was just thinking about radio, I wasn’t thinking about all the other stuff, like podcasting and voiceover,” he said. “It made me realise how big radio is and all the other opportunities out there.” 

Leroy said along with key skills, the course had taught him a lot about the audio industry, the importance of audience and how to work collaboratively to produce engaging content. One highlight was working on Show Radio, at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, where he got hands-on experience across a range of roles – from presenting to panelling and producing. He said it also helped him connect more deeply with his peers. By dropping his guard and letting his personality shine through, Leroy discovered the power of bringing his authentic self to his work. 

“At first, I wasn’t really being myself, I’ll be honest about that,” he said. “But as I started being [at AFTRS] longer, getting along with the other classmates, I started actually being myself and opening up a bit more,” he said. 

“At Show Radio they absolutely loved some of the things that come out of my mouth … I was cracking them up, even though I wasn’t trying to be intentionally funny; I was just being myself.”

Natalie Pozdeev said it was always rewarding to see that kind of growth. She emphasised the space in the industry for everyone – and that leaning into your personality is not just accepted, but encouraged. 

“What we find is the radio industry wants you to be the best version of you, so your most authentic self, and to show up exactly as that,” she said. “That’s what we find works really well.” 

Micah said while he also thought Show Radio was a highlight, what he loved most about the course went deeper than the exercises. 

“All the tasks and the assessments are quite enjoyable, and just learning how to produce stories and do radio announcements are great skills to have, but in all honesty, it’s also just the overall AFTRS experience,” he said.  

“The lecturers have been very compassionate and very understanding because I know that both Leroy and I have had issues where we’ve had to request extensions and they genuinely understand – like they understand things about the importance of family and sorry business and you feel very supported from that cultural sense as well. 

“And I also feel really supported by the non-indigenous students. I’ve seen how, on campus, they’ve really taken Leroy in and how supportive they are. It’s just cool to see.” 

With Leroy planning to graduate at the end of this year and Micah hopefully the year after, the pair say they are now brothers for life. 

“Leroy inspires me so much,” Micah said. “He’s relocated from his family, left his comfort zone, and is creating something for himself. It really helps to keep me going.” 

And this inspiration goes well beyond the AFTRS community, according to brother Kerrod. 

“Leroy has 11 nieces and nephews and when he goes home to Brisbane they’re all asking, ‘Uncle Leroy, what are you doing? What are you doing?’ And they’re showing genuine interest in the radio course,” Kerrod said. “I think it’s really cool. He’s inspiring the next generation of our family to follow their dreams and chase what they want to do.” 

Micah echoed that sentiment. “We’re not just learning for ourselves. We’re showing our communities what’s possible. We’re proving that our voices matter.” 

Triple M is set to light up the 2025 Telstra NRL and NRLW Grand Finals with unmatched live coverage, delivering every tackle, try, and match-defining moment with the most passionate call in the game.

As the Broncos and Storm prepare for a blockbuster decider, and the Roosters and Broncos battle for NRLW supremacy, Triple M has fans covered from dusk to dawn with the best analysis, laughs, and live calls across the network.

In the lead-up to Grand Final weekend, Triple M’s local Breakfast shows will deliver all the latest footy news and big-name guests, while The Rush Hour with Maroon & Hindy (NSW) and The Rush Hour with Dobbo & Elliott (Queensland) will set the agenda each afternoon. Listeners will also get their footy fix from Triple M’s league shows, including The Saturday Scrum, NRL Daily and The Journos podcast.

On Grand Final Day – Sunday, 5 October – coverage begins from midday with The Sunday Sin Bin, as Gorden Tallis, James Graham, Buzz Rothfield, and Ben “Dobbo” Dobbin, bring league fans all the colour, excitement, and feverish build-up to the huge day, live on Triple M.

At 3:30pm, attention turns to the NRLW Grand Final, with two dynasties colliding as the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters battle for bragging rights as the greatest women’s team in the professional game. Anthony Maroon, Olivia Higgins, Aaron Woods, and Kat Haddad will be on the call.

Then, at 6:30pm, the NRL Grand Final takes centre stage. With the Broncos and Storm splitting wins in their two clashes this year, the decider promises to be one of the most tightly contested in recent history. Triple M’s unrivalled commentary team, Dan Ginnane, Gorden Tallis, James Graham, and Ben Dobbin, will guide fans through every moment, with trademark passion and insight that has made Triple M the #1 NRL audio broadcaster.*

Ewan Giles, SCA Head of Sports Content, said: “We’re pumped to give league fans more of what they love this weekend: the most passionate and exciting call in the game. From the Broncos and Storm in a mouth-watering Grand Final clash, to two dynasties colliding in the NRLW, this is what footy fans live for. Triple M’s wall-to-wall coverage is exactly why we’re the #1 audio broadcaster in the NRL.”

Triple M’s Grand Final Day Coverage:

• The Sunday Sin Bin (from midday): Gorden Tallis, James Graham, Buzz Rothfield, and Ben Dobbin
• NRLW Grand Final (from 3:30pm): Anthony Maroon, Olivia Higgins, Aaron Woods, and Kat Haddad
• NRL Grand Final (from 6:30pm): Dan Ginnane, Gorden Tallis, James Graham, and Ben Dobbin

The #1 NRL audio broadcaster, Triple M, reaches more than 434,000 listeners across Brisbane and Sydney each week.* Coverage of the 2025 NRL & NRLW Telstra Grand Final beginfrom midday, Sunday 5 October, live on Triple M and on demand via LiSTNR.

Source: GfK Radio 360 Ratings. Metro Survey 5, 2025. Sydney / Brisbane. – Thursday 1800-2200, Friday 1800-2000, Saturday 1200-1700, Sunday 1200-1600. P10+ / People 10-69 / People 25-54. Cume Reach / Market Share %.

About Triple M: 

For more than 40 years, Triple M has been one of Australia’s most recognisable radio brands, providing listeners with a unique blend of Greatest Hits, Sport, and Comedy. With 49 stations nationwide – including six digital stations – Triple M is renowned for delivering music’s greatest hits, alongside iconic talent and standout shows that lead the way in sport and entertainment. 

Reaching more than 4.9 million radio and on-demand listeners each week, Triple M is home to some of the country’s most respected sporting legends, beloved comedians, and music personalities, including Mick Molloy, James Brayshaw, Billy Brownless, Luisa Dal Din, and Jack Archdale – to only name a few! Triple M’s content is available live or on demand on the LiSTNR app.  

About

All The Best is a podcast and radio program where emerging Australian storytellers learn how to make audio stories. ATB is a weekly podcast and community radio show produced at FBi Radio , in association with SYN and Triple R in Melbourne. ATB is also broadcast nationally on the Community Radio Network.

We’re looking for a Programming & Community Coordinator to help build and nurture the All The Best storytelling community. This role is all about supporting emerging audio makers, coordinating volunteers, and fostering programming that brings new voices to the airwaves.

Key Details

• Commitment: ~7.5 hrs/week (42 weeks annually)
• + 12 days co-administering the Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship Program
• Potential for role to expand with grant funded projects
• Type: Part-time 2-Year Fixed Term ($37/hr + 12% super)
• Location: Sydney-based. Some regular hours need to be completed weekly with the All The Best team, other hours can be completed flexibly.
• Reports to: Executive Producer

What You’ll Do

• Host monthly community events (one online, one in-person)
• Coordinate volunteers, recruit and onboard new contributors
• Run creative challenges, workshops, and mentorship activities
• Manage community communications (newsletter & WhatsApp)
• Build and maintain partnerships with creative/educational organisations
• Track engagement metrics and support reporting

What We’re Looking For

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• A passion for storytelling and community media
• A commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion
• Experience (or interest) in volunteer coordination and event facilitation
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Send any questions to: phoebe@allthebestradio.com

Apply via google form

Applications close 6pm, Friday 10th October 2025.

About

All The Best is a podcast and radio program where emerging Australian storytellers learn how to make audio stories. ATB is a weekly podcast and community radio show produced at FBi Radio , in association with SYN and Triple R in Melbourne. ATB is also broadcast nationally on the Community Radio Network.

ATB are currently looking for a Digital Trainee to join All The Best and The Wire, two leading national community radio programs. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in media, marketing, communications, digital content, and audio production. You’ll learn how to translate radio and podcast stories into engaging online formats while building skills in social media, digital production, and audience engagement.

Key Details

• Commitment:
  • Period 1: 3 Nov – 19 Dec 2025 → 4 hrs/week (All The Best only)
  • Period 2: 1 Feb – 30 Jun 2026 → 11 hrs/week (split between All The Best & The Wire)
• Type: Casual fixed term. Paid role ($30/hr + 12% super)
• Location: In-person OR Remote/flexible

What You’ll Do

• Manage and publish content on websites (WordPress CMS)
• Create and schedule social media posts across platforms
• Adapt radio and podcast content into engaging digital formats
• Work with producers to source digital assets (images, graphics, video)
• Contribute to audience reporting and analytics
• Occasionally assist with news stories, surveys, and cross-station projects

What We’re Looking For

• Confidence in managing social media and writing engaging copy
• Audio and/or video recording and editing skills (or interest in learning)
• Organisational skills and ability to juggle tasks across two teams
• Familiarity with (or interest in learning) WordPress and analytics
• Enthusiasm for radio, podcasting, journalism, and community media

 To apply: Send your CV and a short cover letter to kwame@allthebestradio.com

Hear the commercials here: CANTEEN’S RADIO COMMERCIALS

Several of Australia’s major commercial radio networks – SCA, ARN and Nova Entertainment – are coming together for the first time to support young people impacted by cancer through Canteen’s Bandanna Day.

From 1 October, a radio commercial featuring radio royalty Hamish Blake (SCA), Michael “Wippa” Wipfli (Nova Entertainment) and Woody Whitelaw (ARN) will air across all three networks. The campaign, running throughout October, demonstrates radio’s unique ability to spark conversations and unite communities for an important cause. These voices are part of Australians’ daily lives, bringing trust and familiarity to Canteen’s message, especially when it comes to something as deeply personal as cancer.

Canteen’s Bandanna Day, held on 30^th October this year, is the charity’s flagship fundraising and awareness campaign. An iconic event, supported by schools, workplaces and individuals around the country, Bandanna Day has raised more than $35 million. As Canteen celebrates their milestone 40^th year, the charity – founded by young Australians, for young Australians – is embracing its spirit and trying something new and bold.

Pictured: Siona Hardy, CEO of Canteen Australia

“This incredible show of unity from Australia’s biggest radio networks sets a new benchmark for an industry-wide collaboration,” said Siona Hardy, CEO of Canteen Australia.

“Bandanna Day comes at a critical time. We are seeing more young Australians being diagnosed with more aggressive and progressed cancers. And we don’t know why. Bowel cancer alone has surged by 370%.

“With 85% of our funding coming from the community, partnerships like this are vital to ensure Canteen can continue to deliver life-saving and life-changing support to young people impacted by cancer.

“We hope this collaboration inspires other industries to unite in driving donations that provide real support when it’s needed most – and to send a powerful message to young Australians impacted by cancer: you are not alone.”

Lizzie Young, CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), said: “This campaign represents a defining moment for commercial radio, as our members – ARN, Nova Entertainment, and SCA – have united for an important cause. By turning up the volume on Canteen’s Bandanna Day, we’re rallying Australians to stand alongside young people facing cancer.”

“Bandanna Day holds a special place in our hearts at UM. We brought the networks together because we know the difference Canteen makes for young people impacted by cancer. It’s powerful to see what’s possible when we unite behind a cause that matters, and we’re proud to play our part in amplifying it,” said Andrew Clift, Managing Partner, UM.

Sources:

1. https://www.bandannaday.org.au/bandanna-day
2. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-adolescents-young-adults-australia-2023/contents/summary

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Sydney, 01. October 2025

METRO MARKETS:

Sydney Radio 360 Survey 5, 2025

Melbourne Radio 360 Survey 5, 2025

Brisbane Radio 360 Survey 5, 2025

Adelaide Radio 360 Survey 5, 2025

Perth Radio 360 Survey 5, 2025

REGIONAL MARKETS:

Canberra Survey 3, 2025

Gold Coast Survey 2, 2025 

Newcastle Survey 2, 2025

Archive:

Archive of Previous Surveys