CRA WELCOMES REGISTRATION OF THE NEW COMMERCIAL RADIO CODE OF PRACTICE

New Code includes special care provisions during school commute times and establishes new framework designed to ensure transparency in emerging areas such as the use of synthetic AI voices

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) today welcomes the registration by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)of a new Commercial Radio Code of Practice that provides appropriate community safeguards for listeners. In addition to existing safeguards, the new Code provides significant additional protections for listeners to align with evolving community expectations and technological changes.

CRA CEO Lizzie Young said: “We’re proud to lead the way with this new Code. The Australian radio industry is pleased to be proactively addressing evolving community standards, positioning the local commercial radio sector to navigate technological and social changes responsibly.”

The new Code, which takes effect from 1 July 2026, applies to all commercial radio broadcasting licensees and introduces substantial enhancements to the existing community safeguards including: 

1. Special Care provision: 
   A new requirement to take special care during school drop-off and pick-up times (8:00am–9:00am and 3:00pm–4:00pm on school days) that children may be listening.  
   
2. AI Transparency:
   An AI transparency requirement for programs (including news programs) hosted by synthetic voices. This new provision responds to the evolving technology and is the first mandatory AI transparency provision for on-air broadcast content in Australia. 

The Code also includes strengthened correction obligations for news and current affairs programs, and enhanced complaints transparency through publication by CRA of an annual complaints report. In addition to the Australian music quotas commercial radio already operates under, the Code includes refined Australian music format descriptions with further guidance to be developed in consultation with the ACMA.

“Over the course of the review we’ve worked closely with the Australian Communications and Media Authority, our members, and the Australian public who shared their views during consultation. The result is a new Code that reflects what matters most to the communities that commercial radio connects with every day, and we're committed to continuing our work with the ACMA as it takes effect" concluded Young.