Page 2358 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 August 2006
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and balance many competing demands. How many of us have not caved in to a child constantly pestering us for a certain food?
The federal government has a clear responsibility to the parents and the children of Australia. Control over what advertisements can be shown during children’s programs should be implemented and that control would make the lives of parents, and children for that matter, a lot easier. But the federal government is unwilling to implement bans on junk food advertising during children’s programs despite the ever-mounting evidence that such a ban would greatly benefit the health of Australian children.
The need for government legislation limiting advertising to children is not a new concept and has been introduced in a number of countries such as Sweden, Norway and in the Canadian province of Quebec. The United Kingdom is also currently considering television restrictions regarding high fat, sugar and salt products. Regulations exist in Ireland, including the ban of cartoon characters and celebrities in food promotion, while in the United States congress has recently introduced mandatory food advertising regulations for both commercial and cable television following ineffective self-regulation efforts by food marketers.
In 2006, in a recent survey conducted by the Australian Consumers Association, 82 per cent of people supported enhanced government regulation of food advertising to children. The need for greater regulation on advertising unhealthy food is an issue for the community. It is essential that we, the Assembly, take a strong stance and advocate on this matter to the commonwealth government.
There are a number of reasons why Canberrans, Australians and the worldwide population are getting more overweight and obese. This trend can be attributed, of course, to genetics but also to the environment in which we live. Our dietary behaviours, exercise habits and family and social structures all influence us and contribute to how healthy we are. Obviously, a range of measures must be implemented to combat this epidemic.
The ACT government has clearly shown its commitment to the implementation of programs that encourage healthy and active children in the ACT. It has put in place a package of initiatives to promote good health in children and young people. However, programs alone will not reduce the high level of obesity. If children continue to see these foods advertised in a fun, light-hearted and sometimes deceptive manner, they will continue to demand them.
It is the role of governments faced with this situation to promote a more family-friendly environment, to develop lifelong skills, knowledge and habits especially for our children so that they will not be obese in their youth or obese and unhealthy in their adult life. It also involves making life easier for families by banning unhealthy food advertisements during children’s programs, reducing the pressure on parents when deciding what they will allow their children to eat.
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (4.23): This is an interesting and timely motion. Quite a few things could be improved in the territory over which we have control. When this matter was first raised I thought there was some merit
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