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APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton attempts to calm dispute with ACTU

APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton has reached out to ACTU chief of staff Ben Davidson after the union organisation accused APN of banning its recently launched Change The Rules campaign, Mumbrella can reveal.

The New Daily website yesterday reported APN Outdoor had denied the ACTU access to advertising space on buses across Australia’s major capital cities due to management concerns about the political message.

APN has rejected the ACTU claims of political interference, with a spokesperson telling Mumbrella: “For the avoidance of doubt, APN Outdoor have not rejected nor refuse to run the campaign.”

“A booking was made subject to creative approval which is standard practice. The material could not be approved under the restrictions in our transit contracts.”

The out of home campaign, which Mumbrella understands was worth $80,000, was booked by the ACTU to run on public transport from March 19.

However on March 7, APN Outdoor declined the ads, citing contract restrictions on political advertising being shown on public transport.

It is believed the campaign was accepted without APN Outdoor sales staff realising the advertising would be in breach of the wider government contracts.

The ACTU however is still crying foul over APN Outdoor’s actions with a spokesperson telling Mumbrella: “The creative for bus backs was approved by APN. The already-approved materials were later shown to senior management and that approval was withdrawn.

“The ACTU did not receive a suitable substitute offer from APN and the spend was redirected elsewhere. The campaign is running nationwide across online, TV, print, outdoor and radio.”

Despite the ACTU redirecting the planned spend, APN has left the door open to the union movement to advertise its campaign on their properties: “Alternative formats without the prohibitions were offered by APN Outdoor and are still available.”

Warburton has reached out to Davidson in an attempt to calm the dispute, but Mumbrella understands the ACTU’s Davidson is yet to return Warburton’s call.

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