Australia’s media regulator ACMA has been accused of changing its methodology to distort complaints data. 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has reportedly changed its definition of “complaints” so far fewer complaints are recorded in its official data.

In 2019-2020, ACMA investigated a mere 4 per cent of complaints from the public. In 2020, it stopped publishing details of complaints in its annual reports.

After changing its methodology, ACMA’s 2020-21 annual report says only 242 “complaints” came in from the public in the financial year.

This would be less than a quarter of the complaints it reported in prior years. 

ACMA executives including CEO and deputy chair Creina Chapman and executive Chris Jose are distancing themselves from the report, claiming its contents are not their responsibility.

More details are accessible here.