Had an issue with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)? Get a real response.
How to submit a complaint with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
If you want to complain about an ABC program, editorial content, or technical issue, the ABC offers several channels for Australian audiences. The online form is the fastest route to a tracked response.
Online Complaint Form
- Recommended method. Submit via the ABC Make a Complaint form
- Include the program name, broadcast date, time, headline, or episode details so the ABC can locate the content quickly
- You'll receive a confirmation email with a reference number if you provide a valid email address
- Anonymous ABC complaints are accepted
Phone
- ABC Australia customer service line: 13 99 94 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm AEST/AEDT, except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
- If you need help putting a complaint in writing — due to language, literacy, or accessibility needs — staff will create a written summary on your behalf
- Postal address: ABC Audience Support, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001
- Physical address: 700 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Before You Submit
- Lodge complaints about broadcast content within 3 months of the broadcast
- Separate editorial/content complaints from technical or streaming issues (iview, app problems) — using the right channel speeds up resolution
Once the ABC receives your complaint, it enters a structured handling process with defined timelines and an internal review pathway.
- Acknowledgement: You'll receive a confirmation with a reference number and an outline of next steps
- Routing: Content complaints (editorial standards, bias, accuracy) are forwarded to the relevant ABC division. Technical complaints (iview, apps) follow a separate operational pathway
- 30-day target: The ABC aims to finalise complaints within 30 business days. Historically, around 60% are resolved within this window
- 60-day benchmark: Approximately 98% of complaints receive a response within 60 days. If you haven't heard back after 60 days, you can escalate externally to ACMA
- Updates: The ABC communicates progress via email (if provided) or post
ABC Ombudsman — Internal Review
If the initial response is unsatisfactory, you can request an internal review by the ABC Ombudsman's Office. The Ombudsman operates independently from ABC content-making divisions and can investigate editorial complaints, recommend remedies, or refer matters to ACMA. The Ombudsman cannot mandate a remedy, but recommendations carry weight within the organisation.
Common complaints against Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Editorial Bias and Impartiality
- The most frequent category — roughly 42% of all complaints. An ABC bias complaint typically cites perceived political slant in news coverage, interviews, or current affairs programming
- Complaints span the political spectrum, though concerns about left-leaning bias appear most commonly on review platforms
Factual Inaccuracy
- Approximately 25% of complaints relate to errors in reporting, misleading headlines, or factual mistakes in news articles and broadcasts
- An ABC editorial standards complaint citing specific errors and referencing the ABC's own accuracy guidelines tends to receive more thorough review
Unfair Treatment
- Around 15% of complaints concern how interview subjects, communities, or viewpoints are represented
- Issues include presenter conduct, interrupting guests, and perceived favouritism in coverage
Clickbait Headlines and Journalism Quality
- Multiple reviewers criticise ABC's online news headlines for withholding essential details like location or timing
- Readers report needing to click through articles for basic information that should appear in the headline
Programming and Content
- Complaints about excessive reruns, lack of diversity in programming, and repetitive scheduling of older content
Technical and Streaming Issues (iview)
- ABC iview complaints cover app performance, login problems, playback issues, and device compatibility
- These should be submitted separately from editorial complaints for faster resolution
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) complaints submitted through Ajust
How other consumers Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) complaints got resolved
Gaza Coverage Bias Investigation
Multiple complainants raised concerns that ABC coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict displayed pro-Israel bias, including claims that Palestinian viewpoints were questioned more rigorously than Israeli sources. The complaints triggered an internal editorial review against the ABC's impartiality standards.
Tip: Reference specific ABC Editorial Policies (e.g., Section 4.1 on Impartiality) and cite exact quotes, dates, and program details when filing a complaint.
Gender Identity Coverage Balance Study
An independent study analysed 540 gender identity-related articles published by ABC News between 2020 and 2025, finding a significant lean in sourcing and framing. The findings prompted complaints assessed under the ABC's impartiality guidelines.
Tip: Complaints backed by documented patterns or data tend to receive more thorough review than individual one-off complaints.
Clickbait Headlines and Presenter Conduct
Multiple complaints about ABC online news using clickbait headlines and unprofessional presenter conduct were lodged on third-party review platforms rather than through official channels. No formal ABC responses were documented because the complaints bypassed the official process.
Tip: Always use the official ABC complaint form to ensure your complaint is tracked and receives a formal response.
If your initial complaint to the ABC doesn't result in a satisfactory outcome, you have several escalation options — each with increasing external authority. Here's how to complain to ABC Australia through progressively higher channels.
Step 1: ABC Ombudsman (Internal Review)
- Request that your complaint be reviewed by the ABC Ombudsman's Office
- The Ombudsman is independent from content-making divisions and provides an impartial internal review
- The Ombudsman may recommend remedies or refer your complaint to ACMA
Step 2: ACMA (External Regulator)
- If you haven't received a response within 60 days, or the ABC's final response is inadequate, escalate to the Australian Communications and Media Authority
- ACMA investigates potential breaches of the ABC Code of Practice for TV and radio broadcasts
- You must have complained to the ABC first — ACMA requires this before investigating
Step 3: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
- For broader concerns about the ABC's operations or charter obligations, raise issues with the federal department responsible for national broadcasters
Step 4: Senate Environment and Communications Committee
- For systemic issues or concerns about how the ABC handles complaints at an institutional level, the Senate Committee has conducted inquiries into ABC and SBS complaints handling
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): The external regulator for ABC television and radio broadcast complaints. ACMA can investigate alleged breaches of the ABC Code of Practice. You must complain to the ABC first and either wait 60 days or receive an unsatisfactory response before escalating. Lodge an ACMA ABC complaint
- ACMA scope limitation: ACMA does not generally investigate complaints about online-only content (e.g., ABC News website articles that were not broadcast on TV or radio)
- Australian National Audit Office (ANAO): Has conducted performance audits of ABC complaints management, examining whether the ABC handles complaints effectively and in line with its charter. The ANAO audit report provides public findings on ABC complaint handling performance
- ACCC and Fair Trading: Not the appropriate path for editorial complaints. These bodies may be relevant for consumer issues related to ABC commercial products or merchandise, but content and editorial complaints should go through ACMA
- ABC Complaint Handling Process — Download the PDF overview of how the ABC manages complaints.
- ABC Website — abc.net.au is the main hub for all ABC content and services.
- ACMA Broadcast Complaints — Complain about a TV or radio program after exhausting ABC channels.
- ACMA General Complaints — View all ACMA complaint options for broadcasting and communications.
- Department of Infrastructure — ABC Concerns — Raise concerns about ABC operations at the federal level.
- Senate Committee — ABC Complaints Handling — View inquiries into ABC complaints processes.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Complaints FAQs
How long does the ABC take to respond to a complaint?
The ABC aims to respond to complaints within 30 business days, with around 60% resolved in that timeframe. Approximately 98% of ABC complaints receive a response within 60 business days. If you haven't heard back after 60 days, you can escalate your complaint externally to ACMA without waiting any longer.
Can I complain to ACMA about ABC online articles that weren't broadcast on TV or radio?
ACMA generally does not investigate complaints about ABC online-only content such as website articles. ACMA's jurisdiction covers ABC television and radio broadcasts under the ABC Code of Practice. For concerns about online-only ABC content, the ABC's internal complaints process and the ABC Ombudsman are your main options for review.
What details should I include in an ABC complaint to get a faster result?
Include the program name, broadcast date, time, and specific details like quotes or headlines in your ABC complaint. Referencing the relevant ABC Editorial Policy section, such as Section 4.1 on Impartiality, strengthens your case. Complaints with specific evidence and policy references consistently receive more thorough and timely review from the ABC.
What is the difference between the ABC Ombudsman and ACMA when escalating a complaint?
The ABC Ombudsman is an internal reviewer independent from ABC content teams, while ACMA is an external government regulator. Start with the ABC Ombudsman if your initial ABC complaint response was unsatisfactory. If the Ombudsman's review still doesn't resolve your concern, or 60 days have passed without a response, escalate to ACMA for an independent investigation.
You’ve done your part, now it’s time to hold Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) accountable.
Take the final step and submit a complaint that gets seen and responded to.