Watchdog clears ABC's Tonightly following controversial skit

The television watchdog has cleared the ABC of any wrongdoing after a conservative politician was called a "c---" on-air.

Earlier this year, Tonightly with Tom Ballard broadcast a skit about renaming the former Melbourne electorate of Batman to "Batman was a c---". The seat has since been renamed Cooper in recognition of Aboriginal activist William Cooper and John Batman's treatment of first nations people.

As part of the controversial sketch, ABC comedian Greg Larsen singled out Australian Conservatives candidate Kevin Bailey.

"[There] was an issue because there is no Batman anywhere on that poster," he said. "So I've had to put Kevin Bailey was a c---."

The joke sparked a complaint from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, who argued the skit was unacceptable and constituted "vitriolic abuse". Fairfax Media later revealed the ABC's head of entertainment, David Anderson, phoned Mr Bailey to personally apologise.

However the public broadcaster has always maintained it was within its rights to air the skit. On Friday, the Australian Communications and Media Authority sided with the ABC.

Tonightly with Tom Ballard was investigated by the broadcasting watchdog.Credit: ABC Comedy

While the watchdog found the segment was likely to offend given the word "c---" was said six times, it said it was important to consider that the language was part of a crude joke.

"The offence in the segment was moderated by the nature of the program which is a satirical comedy," ACMA ruled.

"The humour is often blunt, crude and sarcastic. The offensive language used in the segment was partially moderated by its scripted, comedic nature. Tom Ballard's repeated interjections and comedic attempts to end the conversation highlighted the unacceptable nature of Greg Larsen's suggestions."

However, ACMA did suggest Tonightly might not get away with future skits if it continues to target individuals with offensive language.

"There are limits to the licence granted by comedic context," the watchdog ruled. "This sketch came close to those limits by singling out an individual in an offensive way."

An ABC spokeswoman declined to comment, arguing the ACMA ruling spoke for itself. But in its ACMA submissions, the public broadcaster said the word "c---" was unlikely to offend Tonightly viewers.

"A dedicated comedy audience, watching a fresh and edgy program targeted at younger adults is more likely to accept and be relatively unoffended by the word 'c---' in a sketch of this nature," the ABC said.