[Greens-Media] ACMA should ban junk food ad to kids - Greens

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 27 June 2007

ACMA should ban junk food ad to kids - Greens

Greens Leader Bob Brown today called on the Australian Communications
Media Authority (ACMA) to ban junk food advertising aimed at children.

"Advertising regulations should reflect community standards and parents
have clearly and consistently asked that junk food ads aimed at children
be banned," Senator Brown said.

"The media regulator should heed community concerns and ban
advertisements which use toys, games, celebrities and movie characters
such as Shrek to promote unhealthy food and fast food to children,"
Senator Brown said.

In 2006 the NSW Cancer Council found levels of junk food advertising
were critically high and deliberately targeting children. Its study
found 194 advertising breaches in 645 hours of television. Senator Brown
said both Labor and the Coalition had voted down the Greens' attempts to
legislate for a ban on junk food advertising during children's
television viewing hours. 

"The Australian Medical Association has called for a junk food ad ban
after expressing concerns that childhood obesity may, for the first time
in Australian history, result in a decline in the life expectancy of
newborns," Senator Brown said. 

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603 

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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au