❓ Question regarding government action on harmful hypersexualised advertising since a 2022 petition, and exploration of legislative options for outdoor advertising regulation. The answer deflects responsibility to Commonwealth law and a previous ministerial response.
AnsweredQoN 175Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) In 2022, a petition titled 'Protecting Children from Harmful Hypersexualised Advertising' was tabled in this House of Parliament. The petition called for the Western Australian Government to "make the protection of children a real priority by urgently tackling harmful hypersexualised advertising in all its forms". Since the petition was tabled, I ask: (a) what steps has the Government taken to tackle the issue of harmful sexualised advertising; and (b) how many complaints has the Government received about sexualised advertisements displayed in shopping centres and other public locations? (2) The content of outdoor advertising is self-regulated by the industry. Ad Standards is an independent, industry-funded organisation which receives and responds to complaints made about the content of inappropriate outdoor advertisements. How has the government explored options to regulate outdoor advertising through legislation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 June 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Commerce
Response time
8 days
(1)-(2) Following the tabling of the petition referred to by the Member, in 2023 the previous Minister responded to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, advising that these matters do not fal within the scope of the Commerce Portfolio.
The advertisign industry is primarily regulated under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2, Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), and, as such, standards in advertising are therefore a matter taht falls within the remit of the Commonwealth Government.
The advertisign industry is primarily regulated under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2, Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), and, as such, standards in advertising are therefore a matter taht falls within the remit of the Commonwealth Government.
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