ACT Government: Chris Steel slams Greens anti-advertising petition

ACT transport and city services Minister Chris Steel has slammed a petition against public advertising led by federal Greens candidate Tim Hollo

The ACT transport and city services Minister Chris Steel has called the federal Greens “out of touch” following the tabling of an anti public advertising petition in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The petition “Make/Keep Canberra Ad Free”, led by federal Greens candidate Tim Hollo, was tabled by Greens MLA Jo Clay on Tuesday.

Mr Hollo’s petition received 523 signatures and calls on the ACT Government to roll back public advertising, to not renew its contract with Adshel and to introduce new laws to curtail public advertising using parked vehicles.

Federal Greens candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo is calling for the ACT Government to crackdown on public advertising. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Speaking to the media outside the ACT Legislative Assembly Mr Steel said advertising revenue was necessary to fund Canberra’s public transport network.

“The federal greens are out of touch,” Mr Steel said.

“They are arguing for cuts to public transport revenue.

“(Public transport) is a vital service.

“We know that people in the federal seat of Canberra care about vital services like public transport.”

Mr Steel also said there was “existing progressive policies and advertising guidelines” in place to curtail predatory advertisements.

Responding to Mr Steel’s statement Ms Clay said the revenue generated by public advertising is “simply not worth it”

“Canberrans really love our Bush Capital, we love our public space,” she said.

“Taking a tiny amount of revenue for promoting advertising messages … is not worth it.”

Meanwhile Mr Hollo described the estimated revenue from advertising on public transport as “a rounding error in the ACT Government’s budget.”

He claimed the revenue earned by advertising on public transport to be less than 1 per cent of the ACT’s budget at about $1m.

“The idea we need to take public space and sell it off to private corporations to profit from a tiny bit of scraps … it’s just not frankly justifiable.”

Supplied Editorial Federal Greens candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo and Greens MLA Jo Clay outside the ACT Assembly. Mr Hollo's petition against public advertising has been tabled in the ACT Legislative assembly. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

An ACT Government spokesman told the Canberra Star the government expects to receive $1m in revenue during the 2021-2022 financial year.

“ This revenue contributes to funding available to deliver better transport services,” the spokesman said.

“The total expenses for Transport Canberra Operations in 2020-21 were $273m.”

The spokesman said advertising on public transport was an “accepted and longstanding practice in Canberra, across Australia and in most other cities around the world.”

“ It provides a useful channel for public information campaigns such as 2021’s Covid vaccination campaign on light rail and not-for-profit organisations as well as commercial advertisers,” the spokesman said.

Under the National Capital Plan Canberra has existing restrictions to public advertising such as roadside billboards.

The National Capital Plan bans billboards on unleased land in Designated Areas of the ACT.

Advertising on bus shelters is legal except for stops on Anzac Pde, Commonwealth Ave, Kings Ave, and Constitution Ave or areas bound by those roads.