MAFS Australia continues to make headlines in Britain.
The BBC now reports that a spokesperson for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) told the BBC it “acknowledges the serious and disturbing matters” raised by former participants on the show.
The spokesperson added: “When members of the public raise concerns with the ACMA that fall outside of our regulatory remit, we encourage them to bring those concerns to the broadcaster and, where appropriate, to the relevant authority.”
The ACMA is responding to questions by the BBC, as part of its ongoing investigation into abuse claims on both MAFS UK and MAFS Au.
On Monday, the BBC revealed that contestants were not told about the criminal pasts of people they were matched with.
In a joint statement responding to the BBC’s investigation on MAFS Australia, Nine and Endemol Shine Australia said they take their obligations in respect of the health, wellbeing and safety of participants “extremely seriously”.
“There is a structured, multi-stage checking process that every participant must complete and clear,” they said – including police and criminal-history checks in each declared country of residence, independent clinical psychological assessment, medical screening, disclosure supported by a statutory declaration, and legal and digital due diligence.”
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MAFS Au brides not told about criminal pasts
One ‘bride’ from the MAFS Au 2025 series claims she wasn’t made aware that her ‘groom’ had a previous drug conviction – and only found out after the show ended.
“There should be informed consent,” she told the BBC.
Sierah Swepstone, from last year’s series, says she feels let down by the show’s producers, Endemol Shine.
Swepstone was cast with Billy Belcher, who was arrested and sentenced in 2014 for multiple drug-related offences in Perth – facts she says she didn’t know about at the time of filming.
“You shouldn’t be left alone with a stranger with a criminal record,” Swepstone said.
“At the very least, there should be informed consent. They should let us know. Why is the show accepting that risk on our behalf? We should have the choice.
“Brides are not safe on MAFS Australia.”
Belcher did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC.
Th BBC found at least three other ‘grooms’ with criminal histories that brides were not informed about.
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Adrian Araouzou, a groom on the 2025 series, received a 2017 conviction for affray.
When asked for a response by BBC News, Araouzou said it was “none of your business” and denied any allegations.
The BBC asked Nine and Endemol Shine whether they had informed Araouzou’s ‘bride’ of the conviction for affray; the BBC’s understanding is that she was not told.
In a joint statement they said: “All participants on MAFS, including Adrian, undergo extensive background checks including police checks.
“The affray conviction was nine years ago, and the penalty was a $400 fine, placing this at the lowest end of the spectrum for this offence as determined by the court.”
You can read more about the criminal pasts of contestants which have been revealed, here.
Main image: Sierah Swepstone. Image: Instagram