Australian regulator launches probe into hoax call

Australia’s media regulator launched an investigation yesterday into the prank call by a radio station to the hospital treating Prince William’s pregnant wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, following the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha.

In a brief statement, the Australian Communications and Media Authority said it had opened a formal inquiry to see whether Sydney-based 2Day FM had breached its licence conditions and commercial radio codes of practice.

The radio codes state a station must not broadcast words of an identifiable person unless they have given permission. The station has said it tried to contact the station several times before it broadcast the prank.

The authority can impose new licence conditions if it finds a breach or, in extreme cases, can suspend or cancel a broadcasting licence.

The two DJs who made the call to the hospital, Michael Christian and Mel Greig, have faced a barrage of criticism since Ms Saldanha, 46, was found dead in staff accommodation near London’s King Edward VII Hospital.

The hospital has said Ms Saldanha had not been criticised or disciplined for taking the
call.