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<< Return to previous page | House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Navigation: Contents | Next Page Preliminary pagesForewordNo one can avoid outdoor advertising. This is what makes outdoor advertising appealing to advertisers—it cannot be turned off or put away if a consumer wishes to ignore it. Having seen the dominance of outdoor advertising in my own electorate, and being concerned about the images my own children were being exposed to, I was pleased to lead this inquiry investigating community concerns about the regulation and monitoring of outdoor advertising. The Committee considers that outdoor advertising constitutes a specific category of advertising because of the way that it occupies public spaces, dominates civic landscape, and targets captive, unrestricted audiences. The inquiry addressed particular concerns about the impact of increasing, cumulative and sustained exposure to advertisements that contain sexual, discriminatory or violent material and to advertisements for alcohol and unhealthy foods and beverages. As such, the Committee concluded that industry self-regulation of advertising standards needs to include a specific code of practice for outdoor advertising. This code of practice should reflect the particular nature of outdoor advertising, recognising that all members of society are exposed to it and do not have a choice about viewing it. Community sentiment supported the Committee’s opinion that there is a need to reclaim public space from any wayward interests of commercial advertising. Furthermore, the self-regulatory system for advertising as a whole requires strengthening to address some of the concerns that were raised at public hearings and in submissions to the inquiry. The definition of ‘community standards’ is a contentious issue, given the wide range of views held by all members of society. More research into community attitudes about outdoor advertising standards should be conducted to increase the public’s confidence in decisions about advertising that purport to reflect community norms. Moreover, the Committee recommends that the advertising self-regulatory system adopt international best practice measures such as the provision of independent advice to advertisers on their advertising content prior to publication, and the establishment of a monitoring role to promote high levels of compliance with the voluntary advertising codes. This report contains many recommendations to advertising industry bodies. The Committee expects the recommendations to be adopted and implemented by the relevant bodies, as the industry has demonstrated that it is keen to preserve the system of self-regulation. However, if the industry does not demonstrate over the next few years that self-regulation can appropriately operate within the bounds of community expectations for appropriate outdoor advertising, then the Committee strongly recommends that the Australian Government institute regulatory measures. Public spaces are for the use of all members of the community—men, women and children—and the right to enjoy the amenity of a space should not be compromised by an advertiser’s array of inappropriate images. This report has listened to the Australian community and, on behalf of the Australian community, it says enough is enough. It is time to reclaim our public spaces. Mr Graham Perrett MP Chair
Membership of the committee
Committee secretariat
Terms of referenceHaving regard to:
In performing its functions in relation to this reference, the Committee will consider:
List of acronyms
List of recommendationsRecommendation 1—Advertising and industry bodiesThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers, the Advertising Standards Board, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme report to the Attorney-General’s Department by 30 December 2011 detailing their responses and how the relevant recommendations will be implemented. The Committee further recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers, the Advertising Standards Board, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme provide a comprehensive report to the Attorney-General’s Department by 30 December 2012 detailing how the relevant recommendations contained in this report have been implemented. Recommendation 2—Australian GovernmentThe Committee recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department review by 30 June 2013 the self-regulatory system for advertising by evaluating the industry implementation reports and assessing the extent to which there has been effective implementation of the recommendations contained in this report. If the self-regulatory system is found lacking, the Committee recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department impose a self-funded co-regulatory system on advertising with government input into advertising codes of practice. The Committee recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department conduct five-yearly reviews of the advertising regulatory system to ensure that technological advances and changes in advertising trends are being addressed adequately in line with community expectations. Recommendation 3— Australian Association of National AdvertisersThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers introduce a code of practice for out-of-home advertising and for use by the Advertising Standards Board when determining complaints about out-of-home advertising. The code of practice should recognise that out-of-home advertisements:
Recommendation 4—Australian GovernmentThe Committee recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department investigate, through its anti-discrimination legislation consolidation project, how to include the unrestricted display of racist or sexualised images in the public space under the scope of discriminatory practice. Recommendation 5— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau introduce a transparent copy advice service, which provides independent advice on the suitability of proposed advertisements, for all outdoor advertising. Recommendation 6— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau conduct and publish annual random compliance surveys of outdoor advertising across specific industries and specific elements of advertising codes, such as:
The Committee also recommends that Advertising Standards Board members take on a formal monitoring role of outdoor advertising and self-initiate investigations where warranted. The Committee considers that the compliance surveys would inform the monitoring role. Recommendation 7— Australian Association of National AdvertisersThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers establish a more regular program to review each of the voluntary codes of advertising, in consultation with stakeholders and relevant organisations and experts in the field. Recommendation 8— Australian Association of National AdvertisersThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers amend its Advertising Code of Ethics to proscribe sexual objectification of men, women and children. Recommendation 9— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau, in conjunction with relevant industry bodies, conduct research every two years into:
These findings should be reflected accordingly in determinations by the Advertising Standards Board. Recommendation 10— Alcohol Beverages Advertising CodeThe Committee recommends that the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme conduct research every two years into prevailing community standards on the advertising of alcohol. This research should include particular reference to outdoor advertising and the findings should be reflected accordingly in Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code panel determinations. Recommendation 11—Australian governmentsThe Committee recommends that the Monitoring of Alcohol Advertising Committee continue to monitor alcohol advertising and report annually to the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs. The Committee further recommends that the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs oversee the operation of the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme and provide reports every two years of its assessed effectiveness to Health ministers. Recommendation 12— Federal Chamber of Automotive IndustriesThe Committee recommends that the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries conduct transparent reviews of the Voluntary Code of Practice for Motor Vehicle Advertising every two years in consultation with road safety authorities and government representatives, and publish the findings of the reviews on the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website. Recommendation 13— Australian Association of National AdvertisersThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers amend the Australian Association of National Advertisers Food and Beverage Code to include sports sponsorship as a form of advertising and therefore subject to advertising codes of practice. This should be implemented by 30 October 2011. Recommendation 14— Australian Food and Grocery CouncilThe Committee recommends that the Australian Food and Grocery Council act immediately to include outdoor advertising in the definition of ‘media’ as it applies to the Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative. The Committee recommends that this should be in place by 30 October 2011, notwithstanding that a review of the Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative is scheduled for 2012. The Committee further recommends that the Australian Food and Grocery Council amend both the Quick Service Restaurant Industry Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children and the Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative to include sports sponsorship as a form of advertising. This should be implemented by 30 October 2011. Recommendation 15— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau amend its complaint process to also accept complaints about advertising by telephone and email and accept and investigate anonymous complaints. These changes should be implemented by 30 October 2011. Recommendation 16— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau establish regular nation-wide information and awareness campaigns about the advertising complaints system across all forms of media, including outdoor, television and print. In particular, information on the outdoor advertising code, once it is developed, and the complaints process should be provided to:
Recommendation 17— Advertising bodiesThe Committee recommends that the Australian Association of National Advertisers require its members to forward any complaints from the public about their advertising to the Advertising Standards Bureau. The Committee also recommends that the Outdoor Media Association require its members to forward any complaints from the public about their advertising displays to the Advertising Standards Bureau. Recommendation 18— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau address instances of advertiser non-compliance by:
Recommendation 19— Advertising Standards BureauThe Committee recommends that the Advertising Standards Bureau strengthen the independent review process by:
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