Australia: Junk food still has green light

During the lead up to the election, ACT Greens Meredith Hunter promised to restrict junk food advertising directed at children.

“The ACT Greens will legislate to protect children from targeted junk food advertising through avenues such as prime time television, in cinemas, and on bus shelters,” Ms Hunter said.

“We all know how susceptible children are to targeted advertising. More than 75% of Australians already support a ban on junk food advertising in children’s television.”

Plan have been scaled back in the ACT Labor and ACT Greens joining a Parliamentary Agreement. Chief Minister Katy Gallagher explains that the ACT needs the backing of Federal parliament.

“The ACT Government has consistently taken the position that it is not within the capacity of the ACT administration to legislate in this area and therefore advocacy to the commonwealth government and agreement from them is required before any ban could be put in place,” she said.

Jane Martin from the Obesity Policy Coalition said there were major inconsistencies in the way decisions were made by the various review agencies such as the Advertising Standards Board.

“The codes themselves are seriously flawed, administration and enforcement of the codes are inadequate, and finally despite the food industry introducing more codes two years ago, there is no evidence any of these have reduced children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising,” she said