Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Stephens for her question. Yes, the government does take very seriously indeed advertising in relation to sexuality and the depiction of children in the media. The Children’s Television Standards impose obligations on broadcasters regarding the depiction of content and the times at which those matters can be broadcast. During children’s viewing times any advertisements must, of course, comply with the code and the classification standards. The Children’s Television Standards are currently being reviewed by the regulator, and the role of these matters in advertising is clearly going to be considered. The review is going to be undertaken later this year and should be completed early next year.

All commercial television broadcasters are also governed by the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. The code covers, amongst other things, obligations regarding advertising and depiction of children and is designed to reflect prevailing community standards. The review of the code is due to commence in July 2007. It is worth pointing out also for Senator Stephens’s information that the Australian Association of National Advertisers code relating to advertising to children is obviously also relevant in relation to content.

In July 2006 the government launched broader initiatives relating to healthy living that certainly affect matters such as advertising not only in terms of sexuality and depiction. That particular initiative relates to obesity and other issues of great significance to children. The issue really is that the government takes this matter seriously, together with all of the matters that the government is undertaking in relation to the initiatives on pornography and the depiction online of images of children. We are very serious about the review of these standards so that they can not only appropriately reflect community standards but also address the various serious concerns that parents have had as to the sexualisation of children and the times at which these matters might otherwise appear. We will be inviting submissions for the review of the code. Requests for those, as I understand, will be advertised in the press shortly.