Adjudication No. 132 (June 1982) [1982] APC 12

ADJUDICATION No. 132 (June 1982)

The Australian Foundation on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has complained to the Press Council on the breaking of an embargo placed by the authority on the release of a document "Social Policies on Drugs - Alcohol, Cannabis, Heroin".

The embargo was broken by the Daily Telegraph and, according to the editor-in-chief, the breaking was deliberate.

The council notes that a system of voluntary embargoes has grown up for the convenience both of the media and those issuing documents, Press releases and other information.

This useful practice was breached in this case. The council regrets that this was so, and it does not accept the reasons given for that breach.

If a newspaper believes organisations are using embargoes indiscriminately or in an attempt to manipulate unfairly the release of information, it has an obligation to inform such organisations before unilaterally taking action which undermines the usefulness of the practice of embargoes. The newspaper is censured.