Australia: Advertising loophole means homosexual plebiscite campaign ads won’t be factually correct
PUBLICLY funded advertising promoting each side of the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite will not be bound by regular advertising standards requiring truth and accuracy, news.com.au understands.
A spokeswoman for the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) told news.com.au communications promoting each camp’s messages will be classed as political advertising, and therefore will not be monitored by the industry body.
If the campaigns were to be classed as political advertising, there would be no legal requirement for content of the ads to be factually correct, only that they be properly authorised as outlined in the Broadcasting Services Act.
That means, when a TV or radio station runs “political matter”, it must be immediately followed by authorisation by the person responsible for approving the content and deciding it be broadcast.
Though the authorisation itself — the quickly spoken message usually also written across a blank screen at the end of political campaign ads — must be authorised by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the authority does not have to approve the content itself.
The question that Australia’s would be asked to answer “yes” or “no” in the compulsory national poll would be: “Should the law be changed to allow same sex couples to marry?” Addressing media in Canberra, Special Minister of State Scott Ryan confirmed an advertising committee would be established for each camp, and $7.5 million would be provided to each yes and no committee.
Five members of parliament, two provided by the Government, one from the crossbench and two by the Opposition, plus five members appointed by the attorney-general, as was the case in the 1999 republic referendum, would make up the committees.
“In 1999 the budgets for the yes and no advertising committees had to be approved by the then ministerial committee on Government communications whose parallel now is the service delivery and co-ordination committee of cabinet,” Senator Ryan said.
Each campaign’s advertising budget has blown out the estimated cost of the proposed plebiscite to at least $175 million.
“That process will be adopted again as will clearance of the materials and advertising”.
False concerns have been aired about the impact a publicly-funded opposition campaign could have on young LGBTI Australians. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said Labor is so worried about the impact of the proposed campaign, he was calling in mental health experts.
Yet it was Qld Labor on behalf of Shorten who used the Medicare mobile phone scare campaign - targeting millions of Australian on the day of the election with text messages...which were pure outright lies.
“There is a real risk that LGBTI Australians will be subjected to a well-organised, well-funded campaign of vitriol and prejudice,” he said. But the only people talking hatred and calling people bigots are Labor and gay advocates. The other side is silent.
In question time on Tuesday, Mr Turnbull tried to reassure Mr Shorten Labor would be able to have a say in advertising materials.
“If he supports the plebiscite, he can have two people on each of these committees, so all of this concern about hateful advertising being published with government money, he can have two of his own people on those committees and they will have a direct say and influence over any advertising developed or promoted,” he said.
Mr Turnbull attacked Mr Shorten, saying his stance insulted voters.
“He is basically saying Australians are unable to have a civil discussion about a fundamental question,” he said. “He demeans the people he claims to represent. He demeans their civility, he insults them, he disrespects them.” Health Minister Sussan Ley said she did not believe the plebiscite would be harmful.
