The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of 3MMM Melbourne, Triple M Melbourne Pty Ltd, breached the commercial radio code of practice by failing to meet contemporary standards of decency, having regard to the likely composition of its audience.The breach occurred in the Saturday Football program broadcast on 6 May 2006.

During the talk-back section of the broadcast, Mr Sam Newman described a caller who had criticised his comments on a match as a 'f —-wit'.

Triple M has advised ACMA that Mr Newman was suspended from the air immediately and has not returned to the program. He and the producer of the program have undergone training in the commercial radio code of practice and the licensee has introduced six-monthly staff training on the code.

ACMA considers that these actions address the compliance issues raised by this investigation but will nonetheless continue to monitor the licensee's performance in relation to the relevant code provision to satisfy itself that this was an isolated incident.