“Protecting our most vulnerable people should be a priority for any government.”After years of community concern about offensive material in public spaces the LNP wants its Health Committee to investigate and make suggestions.
Did Queensland vote for 89 members of Parliament to prepare legislation or committees to help keep backbenchers looking busy?
If there was a longstanding conviction that disgusting advertising children are exposed to in the great outdoors is inappropriate they would have a Bill prepared to table in Parliament.
Mark Robinson MP sponsored an excellent petition in November 2012 :
Queensland citizens draw to the attention of the House ...
Children and young people are entitled to live in a caring and nurturing environment, protected from harm and exploitation.
Parents, families and communities have the primary role in safeguarding and promoting the well being of their children and young people and should be supported in carrying out their roles.
Sexually explicit material displayed across outdoor advertising, in particular, through bilboards and shopfront windows, raises particular concerns due to the inability of members of the public to avoid such material.
The protection of children and the civility of our society is adversely affected when sexually explicit and inappropriate material pervades our outdoor advertising.
Of particular concern is the inherent inability of parents to restrict exposure of children to inappropriate images and slogans.
Also of concern is the degradation of women portrayed by a selection of these billboards which is currently seen as acceptable in accordance with the Advertising Standards Board Code of Ethics.
Sexually explicit material displayed in public areas continues to impact and contribute to the sexualisation of Australian children.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to reassess the current self-regulation scheme and enact State legislation that will place further restrictions on outdoor and shopfront advertising with the intention of preventing the display of material that is sexually explicit, offensive and/or inappropriate for children.
The very clear request of the petition was for restrictions on outdoor advertising that is inappropriate for children. They get a year long inquiry."In Queensland,advertising of adult entertainment is regulated under the Liquor Act 1992 and the Liquor Regulation 2002. These laws provide some protection to limit exposure to this type of advertising."
After the mandatory "Exclusive" early release to a media outlet, this time, Ten News, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice released this statement:
Outdoor advertising to go under spotlight
The
Newman Government is reviewing the regulation of outdooring advertising
as part of its commitment to make Queensland the safest state in
Australia to raise a child.Next week in Parliament, the Government will refer a motion and terms of reference to the Health and Community Services Parliamentary Committee to inquire into and report on whether reform, including legislative reform, in this area is necessary.
Currently, outdoor advertising is largely self-regulated, meaning states have very few powers when it comes to regulating sexually explicit material on billboards.
An inquiry by a Parliamentary Committee will provide Queenslanders with an opportunity to provide their input through an open and transparent process.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said he would like the Committee to consider the issue in the context of other forms of advertising, which are classified to help parents protect children from inappropriate advertising.
“It is difficult to avoid outdoor advertising in everyday life and such advertising can be seen by children, with no ability for parents to restrict access if it is inappropriate,” Mr Bleijie said.
“If it is not appropriate to show children certain things on television during prime time, then it should not be appropriate for outdoor billboard advertising.
“There have been Federal reviews of this regulation in recent years, with no meaningful improvements.
“I want the Committee to consider the effectiveness of the existing regulatory model in Queensland in relation to the exposure of our children to sexually implicit images and slogans.
“Whatever regulation is in place, we need a system that when complaints are made, adequate action is taken. I don’t think that is happening at the moment.
“Protecting our most vulnerable people should be a priority for any government.”
[ENDS] 12 April 2013
Comment
So LNP does not get it yet.
She has known for years self-regulation is not working and sends it to a committee to stall for another year before some meaningful action is taken.
LNP is unwilling to take on the advocates of 'anything goes' in public spaces, on roads, at bus shelters and shopfronts?
LNP should be well aware of the problem and have a proposed solution.
Tabling their Bill will allow 89 Members of Parliament to hear what their electorate is saying about the protection of children in public places.
Self-regulation has failed so Queensland should go it alone and let the other states play catch up.
Brisbane Times online and AAP have reported predictable industry reaction.(12/4/13)
But the CEO of the Outdoor Media Association, Charmaine Moldrich, said she was disappointed with the government's direction, labeling the move "costly and unnecessary" and a "knee-jerk reaction".ends
"There were no nationwide complaint, in the area of sex, sexuality and nudity upheld against OMA Members in 2012," Ms Moldrich said.
“Unnecessary regulations and possible ratings of billboards would be a hindrance to both the community and the industry through slower management and resolution of complaints: self-regulatory schemes are quickly improved and amended whereas legislative frameworks can take longer to amend."
Acting chief executive of the Australian Association of National Advertisers, Alina Bain, has questioned the need for further review, describing the Newman Government's action as "duplicative".
Ms Bain said outdoor advertisers already took into account a broad audience including children, rather than a specific target audience, with AANA codes of practice regularly updated to fit with determinations from the Advertising Standards Bureau.
The Communications Council, another industry body, said a very low level of outdoor ads breach the code of ethics.
"Ideally we would like to see no breaches," council chief executive Margaret Zabel said.
"But we feel that it would be a very heavy-handed approach to apply a G-rating to all billboards when the system is proving effective."
She said a self-regulated system was also the cheapest approach because advertisers themselves bear any costs, as opposed to the government or the consumer.
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