Greens Candidate Tim Hollo’s anti-advertising petition gains traction

A petition to the ACT Government fronted by federal Greens candidate Tim Hollo is sparking a debate about public advertising in Canberra. READ THE STORY to vote in our poll.

A petition calling on the ACT Government to crack down on public advertising is gaining traction.

The petition, led by federal Greens candidate Tim Hollo, has more than 500 signatures calling for the ACT Government to roll back public advertising, to not renew its contract with Adshel and to introduce new laws to roll back public advertising.

Mr Hollo is pushing for the petition to be discussed in the ACT Legislative Assembly, and said despite existing rules banning billboards in the nation’s capital there were examples billboard-style advertising in the ACT.

Tim Hollo wants the ACT Government to crack down on illegal public advertising.

The ACT has had legislation aimed at curtailing public advertising since the 1930s.

In the Roads and Public places Ordinance 1937, Section 12 titled “exhibition of advertisements or notices” states: “Any person who, without the permission of the Minister or an authorised officer, exhibits, by any means whatsoever, upon any property of the Commonwealth in or adjoining any public place, any advertisement or notice shall be guilty of an offence.”

The National Capital Plan states billboards are banned on unleased land in Designated Areas of the ACT.

Advertising on bus shelters is allowed in the National Capital Plan except for stops on Anzac Pde, Commonwealth Ave, Kings Ave, and Constitution Ave or areas bound by those roads.

The Public Unleased Land (Moveable Signs) Code of Practice 2019 provides guidance for the types of public advertising legal in the ACT, such as business, real estate, community and electoral advertising signs.

Mr Hollo told The Canberra Star about two examples of advertising he claims should be scrutinised.

“One of the most obvious ones is the big billboard on the side of the Canberra Centre opposite Ainslie Ave,” he said. “Another one is on the corner of the National Convention Centre which is pretty clearly outside of the limits of our current legislation.”

The legislation does not cover rules about advertisements attached to buildings such as advertisements on the Canberra Centre or National Convention Centre Canberra’s LED screen.

Federal Greens Candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo claims billboard style advertising on the Canberra Centre building is illegal.

National Convention Centre Canberra General Manager Stephen Wood told The Canberra Star the LED screen was erected under an approved Development Application.

“The content for the screen is managed by a Canberra company and is operated according to relevant regulations and standards,” he said.

“The vast majority of advertising supports local businesses including charities.”

Canberra Centre General manager Gary Stewart said external advertising had “always been subject to development application approval in the ACT.”

“All applicable signage on display at Canberra Centre has been reviewed and approved by the relevant authorities as part of the development application process,” Mr Stewart confirmed.

“We have not been made aware of any complaints regarding the legality of external advertising at Canberra Centre.

“Our exterior advertising displays are managed by third-party operator, Ooh Media.”

When asked what he’d say to local businesses who consider public advertising as a way to get their message out, Mr Hollo said he didn’t believe public space advertising had genuine value for local businesses

“Public space advertising is massively dominated by multinational corporations,” he said.

“There are far more effective ways for local businesses to put the word out that doesn't create space for the multinationals to out-compete them”

The National Convention Centre, Civic, boasts an LED screen for advertisements. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The petition also calls for the ACT Government to “introduce specific offences for roadside advertising using parked vehicles”.

When asked if additional laws against public advertising criminalise smaller businesses trying to get the word out to potential customers Mr Hollo said any new laws against public advertising would not focus on criminalising individual behaviour.

“If you are a corporation and you break the law you can almost always get away with it, it's not fair,” he said.

“It's about saying if a corporation breaks the law then they should be held to account.”

The petition does not outline potential penalties for new offences.

Mr Hollo’s campaign also claims advertising on the windows of buses “literally make people sick” citing submissions to a 2017 Legislative Assembly inquiry into introducing billboards to the ACT.

“A number of people writing submissions to that inquiry said putting advertising on buses obscures the view from inside the vehicle making it much less comfortable for people prone to motion sickness,” he said.

“Public transport is about making it convenient, easy and affordable for people to get from A to B.

“It’s not just a space for the government to sell advertising to private companies.”

A spokesman for Chief Minister Andrew Barr said all “advertising on Transport Canberra buses, light rail and bus shelters must meet Australian Standards” and are in line with “the values of the Canberra community and ACT Government objectives”.

“Transport Canberra does not allow advertising that promotes tobacco products, gambling, alcohol, weapons, fossil fuels, junk food or political advertising,” the spokesman said.

“There is a prohibition on billboards in the National Capital Plan and current policies in the ACT limit third party advertising to commercial and industrial zones and only at ground level.”

An example of advertising at a bus shelter located on London Circuit, Civic. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The spokesman said a “regulated environment that supports a limited amount of advertising in appropriate locations is preferable to no regulations at all, or attempts to ban advertising entirely”.

“Those who wish to advertise a product or service will use whatever means are available to them to do so,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said less advertising in one way often leads to more advertising through another channel.

The Make/Keep Canberra Ad Free petition closes on February 11