Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bob Brown for his question. I am aware that GetUp! have launched a campaign targeting Harvey Norman and the use of products made from Australia's native forests. I understand that Commercials Advice Pty Ltd, CAD, have refused classification for the advertisement.

Commercial television advertisements are regulated under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. Under the code, an advertisement must be given a television classification appropriate to its content and it must be broadcast at a time that its classification allows. I have not been advised of the reasons for the decision. If requested by CAD's director, the advertiser may need to provide further substantiation of claims made in the commercial and/or evidence of legal clearance. Getup! Australia can seek a review of CAD's decision. During this process, they would have to show that the commercial complies with the classification criteria and does not defame companies such as Harvey Norman.