Outdoor industry faces inquiry into ‘degrading’ billboards
The outdoor media industry is facing a parliamentary inquiry into the regulation of billboards.
The inquiry is being conducted by the House of Representatives social policy and legal affairs committee whose chairman has complained about “degrading or suggestive” outdoor ads.
The remit of the inquiry – to report back within the next three months – will include “community concerns” about outdoor advertising.
Billboard advertising remains a major issue for the Advertising Standards Board, which is the marketing indistry-funded body which administers the voluntary rules.
One of the ASB’s most talked about decisions of the last couple of years was the decision to ban the Australian Medical Institute’s “Longer lasting sex” billboards based on changes to community standards.
It will also look at “technical developments” in outdoor advertising.
The inquiry was announced just before Christmas but did not receive widespread publicity. At the time, committee chairman Graham Perrett issued a statement saying:
“I am aware of widespread community concern about some of the advertisements we are seeing on outdoor billboards.
“In 2009, objections to the Advertising Standards Bureau regarding the content of outdoor advertising rose from 16 to 24 per cent of all complaints.
“I have seen far too many examples of outdoor advertising that is directed to an adult audience, or contains degrading or suggestive images.
“It is different to other media like television and radio where parents can simply turn off content if they don’t think it is suitable for their children.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I am disgusted by these particular billboards.
I would however gladly follow @austmedinstitute or like their FB page.
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All outdoor advertising should be banned anyway
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Suggesting ‘Christchurch’ solution to rid ugly outdoor advertising is a little extreme. But just a tiny bit.
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Can they do something about their radio ads as well?
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