Serb radio program producers mount legal challenge

THE producers of a Serbian radio program have launched a legal challenge to insurer CGU.

THE producers of a Serbian radio program have launched a legal challenge to insurer CGU after the company acted to exclude defamation claims lodged by Australian Serbs.

The Serbian Broadcasting Group, whose program on 3ZZZ community radio in Melbourne was taken off air last year, will today apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, claiming that a special condition in 3ZZZ's defamation insurance policy is discriminatory.

The condition stipulates that 3ZZZ's defamation insurance policy excludes claims made by any member of the Australian and New Zealand Serbian community. When 3ZZZ became aware of the special condition in July last year it immediately suspended its Serbian program and replaced the bi-weekly slot with Serbian music. 3ZZZ refused to comment on the action to Media.

In its application to VCAT's anti-discrimination list, the Serbian Broadcasting Group alleges CGU racially discriminated against it because it broadcast to Australia's Serbian community, who were excluded from lodging defamation claims.

CGU said the broadcasting group's application was "entirely without merit".