The Prime Minister’s inane comment that the government should not interfere with parental responsibility is simply another example of the Howard Government’s steadfast refusal to help protect the health of Australia’s children.
Leading industry groups, such as the Australian Medical Association, Young Media Australia, and the Coalition on Food Advertising to Children (CFAC), have continually called on the Howard Government to take action and ban junk food advertising to children. To date the Howard Government has continued to shirk its social responsibility.
CFAC Chairperson Kaye Mehta highlighted this issue in the following statement:
“It is heartening to see the Opposition Party show leadership on this issue, and take this obviously difficult issue on.
In contrast it has been disappointing that our Federal Government has refused to engage with this issue seriously and appears to have bowed to pressure by the industries involved”.
Labor knows that junk food advertising is not the cause of obesity, and that banning junk food advertising will not cure Australia’s obesity problem. That is why Labor last year released a comprehensive cross-portfolio policy Tackling Obesity and Promoting Community Wellbeing: Labor’s plan for a healthier and more Active Australia. This policy commits a total of $25 million toward tackling obesity, $10 million of which is directed specifically toward childhood obesity.
Labor believes however that it is irresponsible for a Government which is committed to caring for the health of our children not to extend the boundaries that protect our children where necessary – in this case by banning junk food advertising during children’s television viewing hours.
The irrefutable reality is that companies advertise their products to influence choices. It is negligent to allow the promotion of unhealthy food and drink products to children who do not have the necessary understanding to discern between healthy and unhealthy eating messages.
This is the very fact that goes to the heart of the issue of free speech. Free speech presumes the intellectual capacity to make educated decisions. Clearly differ significantly from adults in terms of cognitive function. Children do not have the same ability to discern the motivations behind the messages they are viewing that adults do.
Banning junk food advertising is not an inhibition of free speech; it is a case of a responsible Government taking a decisive stand to help protect our children.
Working to stem the rapid increase in overweight and obesity rates is a job that must be done by parents, government and community working together. It is not only irresponsible to place responsibility solely on the shoulders of parents, it is unfair.
Parents need the support of Government and community to provide more opportunities for physical activity, to provide better health education for all Australians, and to take strong social stands where they are warranted.
Labor has always stood tall on difficult issues. Labor took the initiative of banning tobacco advertising to protect the health of all Australians, in particular children. For the same reason Labor will take a stand against the unrestricted advertising of junk foods to children where the Howard Government has failed to do so.
A ban on junk food advertising during children’s programs can only assist the nation’s health care and the fight against childhood obesity.
Under a Labor Government all food and drink advertising will be banned during all P (preschool) and C (children) classified programs, and during G (General) classified programs that are, as defined by the ABA, clearly aimed primarily at children. Such a ban will not preclude the promotion of healthy eating messages via community service announcements and the like.
Contact: Kate Roffey – (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 969 364
