The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Queanbeyan Community Radio 2QBN, breached the condition of its licence by not encouraging members of the community it serves to participate in the operations and programming of the service.

2QBN also breached the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice by not having volunteer guidelines or a written conflict resolution policy in place.

In its investigation ACMA has made some important recommendations to community stations, warning them not just to adopt the standard Model Rules of Association when forming a station, but to work hard on generating a unique constitution, which is specific to the activities of a community radio statioin.

ACMA investigated complaints that 2QBN had rejected a number of membership applications, denied access and equity to community members, discriminated against members of the community it serves, engaged in inadequate management practices, did not have guidelines in place regarding the principles of volunteering and did not have a written policy and procedure in place in relation to internal conflict resolution within the organisation.

In light of these breaches of the licence condition and code, ACMA will now move to pursue compliance measures addressing the potential for future breaches of the relevant licence condition and code provisions. radioinfo understands that the ACMA will be writing to Queanbeyan Community Radio Inc shortly about the proposed compliance actions, details of which will be announced when finalised.

For more details on the case click on the link below.