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ACT does the right thing

Action Buses will no longer advertise junk food, alcohol, gambling and weapons in ACT

Action Buses will not feature advertisement for junk food, alcohol, gambling, fossil fuels and weapons under new protocols announced this week.

The existing advertising policy restricts the type of material promoted to exclude political or religious advertising and tobacco products, but this has been expanded to help promote heaty and active lifestyles.

“As a government provided service, it is our responsibility to ensure that the products and messages that we promote on our public buses are suitable and appropriate for the broader population and in line with the values of the Canberra community and government objectives,” ACT minister for territory and municipal services Shane Rattenbury says.

“I have taken the decision to expand this policy to include other products or industries that are either damaging to the health of the population or environment or that promote weapons.”

Action buses are highly visible and Rattenbury believes a greater degree of social responsibility must be applied to reinforce positive behaviours and lifestyle choices.

“A significant number of Action passengers who are school-aged children.

“I think it is really important that we don’t have alcohol, junk food and gambling advertised on our buses.”

The existing policy came into effect in 2013, when the ACT Government committed to restricting the advertising of unhealthy foods and Rattenbury is confident this is the next logical step.

“Given that the ACT Government recently made a decision to divest from fossil fuels due to the impact they have on the environment, it is only appropriate that we don’t promote investment in fossil fuels on our publicly owned buses.

“While the Federal Government retains regulatory control of substantial advertising policy, it is important that the ACT Government does what it can to ensure that the advertising on our public assets is suitable and appropriate and in line with the values of the Canberra community.”

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