Broadcasting post to retired judge

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 29

Broadcasting post to retired judge

PA Wellington Judge Walter Willis, chairman of the Indecent Publications Tribunal and a retired District Court judge, has been appointed as the oneman Broadcasting Complaints Committee. The committee will have the power to co-opt other persons to assist it and comes into force on November 1.

The Minister of Broadcasting. Dr Shearer, said the committee would consider complaints about unjust and unfair treatment in Broadcasting Corporation or private radio programmes. It replaces the present procedure whereby complaints are referred to either the Broadcasting Corporation or the Committee of Private Broadcasters. “This committee will be an independent body to which a person who has-a complaint of this sort against the

Broadcasting Corporation or a private broadcasting station may take his or her case," Dr Shearer said.

The committee will also investigate complaints of unwarranted infringements of privacy in obtaining information used in programmes.

If either the complainant or the broadcaster is unhappy with the committee’s decision, the case can then be taken to the Broadcasting Tribunal. Not all complaints would be taken to the committee. Any relating to standards of taste or decency, or the accuracy and impartiality of news, were to be made to the broadcaster. Dr Shearer said. If the complainant was dissatisfied with the broadcaster's decision, the complaint was then referred to the Broadcasting Tribunal, he said.