Kyle Sandilands has publicly attacked the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)’s proposed license conditions on Australian Radio Network (ARN), calling them a “fakeness” punishment and warning the regulator that the real fight isn’t about rules -it’s about who holds power.
On his KIIS FM Breakfast show this morning, which he co-hosts with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, Sandilands argued that the complaints underpinning ACMA’s action were not genuine, saying: “All these haters complained falsely, and now we’re being sanctioned for fake complaints.”
He said the proposed conditions would severely restrict the show’s format: “We’re not allowed to make sexual innuendo, we’re not allowed to put sound effects on air that sound like sexual innuendo, and we’re not allowed to talk about anything that’s naughty.”
He added that the requirements were “very hard to follow” and suggested the framework would be difficult for any broadcaster to interpret clearly.
Sandilands also criticised ongoing pressure from activist group Mad F**king Witches, referring to “three old ladies or whatever in there – they want us finished,” and saying the group had targeted advertisers while avoiding accountability themselves.
“The company has suffered significant financial setbacks because these people have been bullying our advertisers,” he said.
“But I’m the one that’s being sanctioned by the government.”
ACMA’s proposed licence conditions
Under ACMA’s plan, ARN would be bound by five years of additional licence conditions requiring stricter compliance with the Commercial Radio Code.
The conditions focus on audience interaction, respectful treatment of participants and tighter oversight of content on programs hosted by Sandilands and Jackie Henderson.
The sanctions follow earlier ACMA findings over content deemed to breach decency and audience-interaction standards, including explicit sexual commentary and inappropriate on-air games.
ARN has a defined period to respond to the notice, after which ACMA will decide whether to impose the conditions in full.
‘Maybe I just hang up the headphones’
Sandilands went further, questioning whether continuing to fight regulatory and activist pressure was worth it.
“Maybe I just hang up the headphones… I don’t need to fight,” he said.
“I could finish work today and live happily ever after. I could raise my child, maybe buy a castle in France and be one of those guys continuing to render an old shitter for the rest of his life.”
However, he also emphasised concern for his team: “What I don’t want is young gays and young women that work on this show to have to be retrenched because activists are fighting against this company – not because they care, but because they earn money off hating me.”
Sandilands said the industry had been reluctant to publicly discuss coordinated pressure on brands: “Newspapers have been attacked before by these people and lost substantial amounts of money. Channel Seven has been attacked. No one will touch these people.”
He described the current moment as a crossroads: “Do I stay here and just watch the company crumble, or do I just pack it all up? They lied and tricked everyone, the government was tricked and the watchdog was tricked. Advertisers were tricked.”
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin
Debate over interpretation, subjectivity and process
Sandilands said the core issue with ACMA’s framework is subjectivity: “If something like sexual innuendo is said, is it that black and white? No, it comes under taste and decency, and that is different. I might find something not distasteful or indecent, but somebody else will.”
He also revealed he had twice tried to meet with ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin. “I’ve asked to meet her. I’ve sent two letters. The first one was ignored. The second one they wrote back saying, ‘We don’t meet with presenters.’.