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

The government opposes this amendment, and I will say why. I must say that I think the issue is certainly worthy of debate and discussion, but it is not clear why the Australian Democrats want to include this amendment right at this stage, in a bill which deals with the introduction of digital radio. The focus of this amendment is really on television. I think that Senator Conroy has pointed out, and I agree with him, that it is becoming a less influential medium. If this is a pernicious influence, there are a lot of other platforms over which it is spread more widely.

Let me say for the record that the Australian government does take very seriously the health of all Australians, especially the health of children. I think that everyone here does. I think it is fair to acknowledge that. The government considers that the issues surrounding advertising and childhood obesity are complex. The Healthy Living Ministerial Taskforce that I am actually on was launched in July last year to coordinate an antiobesity campaign involving collaborations between government, industry and the community.

The Children’s Television Standards already impose obligations on broadcasters regarding advertising during children’s viewing times. I think it is worth noting them. No advertising is allowed in preschool programs and limitations are placed on the broadcast of commercials in children’s viewing periods. More specifically, an advertisement for a food product must not contain any misleading or incorrect information about the nutritional value of the product and advertisements must not be designed to put undue pressure on children to ask their parents or other people to purchase an advertised product.

The Children’s Television Standards are currently being reviewed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, and the role of advertising in childhood obesity will be considered as part of the review. It is to be completed in late 2007. I would encourage all of those with an interest in this matter to take the opportunity to raise their proposals in that context because it is already set up to receive them.

All commercial television broadcasters are also governed by the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. The code covers, amongst other things, obligations regarding advertising to children. It is designed to reflect prevailing community standards. The advertising should not encourage unhealthy eating or drinking habits and must not contain any misleading or incorrect nutritional information. A review of the code is expected to commence in July 2007. This will also present an opportunity for those concerned about these matters to raise their proposals.

I also note, for the sake of comprehensively addressing where reviews are up to, that the Australian Association of National Advertisers, AANA, code for advertising to children also includes provisions relating to food and beverages. Television advertisers are expected to ensure their commercials comply with this code, which provides that advertising should not encourage or promote an inactive lifestyle combined with unhealthy eating or drinking habits, and advertising must not contain any misleading or incorrect information about the nutritional value of that product. I understand that the AANA code is also currently being reviewed, although it does not come immediately under my portfolio responsibilities, and the AANA has called for public submissions by 1 June 2007. These various reviews will each provide for public consultation and give all interested parties an immediate means of raising issues of concern about the current regulations governing food advertising to children. With those reviews on board we will not be supporting the amendment.