8 November 2018

Sex may sell but crackdown looms on developers' advertising hoardings

| Ian Bushnell
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The WOVA development hoarding in Woden that was the subject of a complaint to the Advertising Standards Bureau. File photo.

The planning authority has foreshadowed a crackdown on so-called ‘sexy’ advertising hoardings around building sites in response to community concerns about the depiction of women.

Chief Planner Ben Ponton says the authority was looking at developing new advertising guidelines and using the planning approvals process to regulate the use of imagery deemed out of step with community values.

He said the main concern was that the nature of the advertising did not reflect what is being advertised, particularly with the use of images of scantily clad women.

The issue has been bubbling away for months with Minister for Women Yvette Berry previously singling out Geocon for the nature of its advertising, such as the hoarding around the WOVA development in Woden which attracted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Bureau.

It was subsequently dismissed but complaints have continued to pour in to MLAs offices and the planning authority about developers’ advertising hoardings.

On Wednesday (7 November), Labor MLA Tara Cheyne raised the issue at the Legislative Assembly during an annual reports committee hearing, saying there continued to be a proliferation of ‘sexy’ hoardings on building sites not limited to one company.

She said that a father had complained to her recently about his young daughter’s response to a hoarding in Belconnen which showed a naked woman in a shower having a good time. His daughter had asked him what that had to do with a building site.

“That stresses to me what sort of messaging are we allowing to be sent in a such a public way,” she said, asking planning officials what could be done about it.

Mr Ponton replied that his team was looking at the advertising guidelines for the bus network and regulation through the planning approvals process.

Elaborating on that today on ABC radio, Mr Ponton said there were a number of sites of concern but at present, hoardings were exempt from the approvals process.

“We will explore whether there is an opportunity through the development application process as a condition of consent to have the material provided back to the planning authority, where we can compare what’s been provided against criteria or guidelines that we’re hoping to develop,” he said.

“Already in Canberra when you think about what’s advertised on our bus network, there are guidelines in place already about what’s acceptable advertising and these guidelines look to reflect current community values. We’re hoping to explore something similar to apply to the planning approvals process.”

He said while there were no monetary sanctions available under the Planning and Development Act, there were other options through the approvals process although he would not speculate on whether this meant preventing or halting construction.

Mr Ponton said the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate planned to engage with the industry and the community before any action and this would take place in the New Year.

Comment has been sought from Geocon.

 

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People with daughters seem to understand the issues here, as they surely want their child to grow up feeling like an autonomous person rather than a sculpture piece! I feel like a lot of people who see no problem with this would feel very strange if a woman in a crisp ‘masculine’ business suit stood next to a man in budgie smugglers precariously/decoratively draped over a bicycle.

Blen_Carmichael9:35 pm 08 Nov 18

Oh my God. There’s a photo of a woman in a one piece swimsuit on a bicycle. If men see this they will turn into Benny Hill clones, leer at women, and tell smutty jokes.

I’m massively offended that there’s a picture of a woman riding a bike in a full coverage one piece swimming costume approximately 100m from an outdoor public pool.

That kind of thing doesn’t belong there, It’s truly disgraceful and needs to be banned.

Capital Retro9:54 am 09 Nov 18

She is also depicted as riding a man’s bike.

That’s really offensive.

Is it the same group that complained about the raiderettes or any other more attractive than they are groups.

ACT government is now wasting time duplicating other sect u ons of government. ACT ASB?

Shouldnt women be safe enough to ride around in what they want to wear. We shoulsnt send the message that riding around in a swimsuit will get you arrested.

I look forward to the backlash when swimsuits on attractive people is banned.

Asking for a friend: What is the penalty for graffiti-ing or painting over a billboard or hoarding?

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