Page 102 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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As signatories to petition 26-19, 542 residents of the ACT sought to draw to the attention of the Assembly certain comments made by broadcaster Alan Jones, which show that he “does not uphold acceptable community values and does not respect women publicly”. The petition noted that Transport Canberra advertising policy currently “restricts the type of material that can be promoted, including political advertising, tobacco products and anti-social or offensive messages”.
The petition called on the Assembly to “ensure that promotion of people who make sexist public comments is added to the bans in the Transport Canberra advertising guidelines, and called on Transport Canberra to immediately remove from bus advertising all advertisements promoting people who make sexist comments, including Alan Jones”.
In response to the petition, the minister noted that “each advertisement that is placed on Transport Canberra buses is reviewed by Go Transit Australia who manages advertising on the Transport Canberra bus fleet on behalf of the government”. The minister stated that while he understands and agrees “with the outrage from the community about the comments made by Mr Jones”, in this case, “as the advertisement advertises a radio station, and the advertisement does not display an offensive message, the advertisement meets the Australian Advertising Standards and Transport Canberra’s guidelines”.
The ministerial response concluded that “unfortunately, the ACT government is not in a position to ban or remove the advertising at this time”, but also confirmed that the government “will be working to ensure that there will not be any government advertising during the Alan Jones program”.
The committee notes the minister’s response in relation to this petition and has decided not to inquire further into the matters raised in petition 26-19.
Planning and Urban Renewal—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (5.17): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Renewal.
At a private meeting on 11 December 2019, the committee resolved to undertake an inquiry into planning for the surgical procedures, interventional radiology and emergency centre, SPIRE, and the Canberra Hospital campus and immediate surrounds.
The committee, noting the high level of public interest in the processes involved in, and the outcomes of, planning and development within the Canberra Hospital campus, in particular the surgical procedures, interventional radiology and emergency centre, SPIRE, resolved to inquire into and report on:
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