Page 256 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 12 May 1992
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With that 12 months' experience it is now clear that the Government can confidently and legitimately take an even tougher line with regard to the provision of exemptions. I have already refused to grant an exemption to Rothmans of Pall Mall Pty Ltd to allow for the display of entries in the 1992 national press photo awards in a Canberra shopping mall. It is, of course, not the photos that are objectionable but the intention of the sponsor to display its company name and logo as part of the exhibition. This is tobacco advertising, pure and simple, and to allow its display in a shopping centre in full view of thousands of passing shoppers, including children, would be inconsistent with the aim of the Tobacco Act.
I have also now taken action with respect to the Canberra Raiders sponsorship. In taking this action I have been very conscious of the strong support in the Canberra region for the Raiders, support which has been matched by the Government, as evidenced, for example, by our support for the sale of Raiders series number plates. We have also been mindful of the importance of the Raiders' success to the local economy.
Contracts with Rothmans of Pall Mall Pty Ltd which relate to the Raiders' participation in the New South Wales League and to tobacco advertising at Bruce Stadium provide for perimeter and field advertising at Bruce Stadium. Last Friday I announced that perimeter advertising would no longer receive an exemption from the ACT's sponsorship ban. The Government has instead entered into its own sponsorship arrangement with the Canberra Raiders through the Health Promotion Fund. This arrangement ensures that the Raiders are not financially disadvantaged by the application of the tobacco sponsorship ban, while at the same time providing an excellent opportunity to promote health. The Canberra Raiders team and the advertising space at Bruce Stadium previously used by Rothmans will be used to promote various health promotion campaigns and will complement other health promotion campaigns and sponsorships already supported by the Health Promotion Fund.
It is a measure of this Government's strong views on the issue of tobacco sponsorship of sport that the advertising signs that are first being displayed at Bruce Stadium under the arrangement carry an anti-tobacco message, "Get smart, don't start". That is a signage arrangement which, of course, is aimed at youngsters in our community. Together with the signage goes the internationally recognised "no smoking" symbol. The contract between the New South Wales League itself and Rothmans relates to the naming rights for the league competition and various other sponsorship benefits, including the painting of the Winfield brand name on part of the in-goal area and other on-field advertising. Unfortunately, most elements of this contract are beyond the ACT Government's legislative control.
The fact is that the non-provision of an exemption may result in the Raiders losing television coverage of matches and thus considerable advertising revenue from other sponsors. In these circumstances I had no choice but to provide a further exemption under the legislation to this contract. Members of the Assembly should note, however, that this setback will be short-lived. This will mean that, despite the efforts of this Government and this Assembly, Canberrans will continue to be subject to tobacco advertising through media and press coverage of sports interstate and, to a very limited extent, at Bruce Stadium. It also means that children here and elsewhere will continue to take up smoking at a higher rate than if no sponsorship and advertising was allowed.
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