Cancer Council WA have waded into the City of Canning’s debate over fast food advertising, urging councillors to reject a push to open up advertising on city infrastructure to junk-food providers.
At last month’s council meeting, a 20-year tender for the supply and maintenance of street furniture with advertising space was deferred for a month with significant debate over clauses in the contract that banned fast food and political candidate adverts.
Currently, there are about 203 bus shelters, 174 bench seats and 217 litter bins in the city that can be used for advertising space.
At last week’s agenda forum meeting, Cancer Council WA obesity prevention manager Ainslie Sartori fronted council to deliver a deputation on the issue not only on behalf of CCWA, but also the Telethon Kids Institute, Diabetes WA and the Heart Foundation.
“As a coalition of public health and medical organisations, we have written to the Mayor, the CEO and each City of Canning councillor to offer our support in the awarding of a tender that would restrict the advertising of junk food, alcohol and e-cigarette retailers on City of Canning street furniture including bus stops, street benches and street litter bins.
“The marketing of unhealthy food and drink influences children’s brand awareness and preferences, and consequent purchases and consumption.
“We can do better.
“There is a clear opportunity through this process to set high standards now and for the future to protect and promote children’s health.
“This is an opportunity for the City of Canning to have an impact where children living in and visiting the city are protected from junk food, sugary drinks, alcohol and e-cigarette advertising on community infrastructure.
“Only by addressing the extent to which children are exposed to this advertising can we reduce the impact of these products on children’s health.
“The public health and medical organisations I represent are ready to stand behind the city and support its efforts to create healthy communities.”
CCWA cancer prevention and research director Melissa Ledger, who also gave a deputation at the night’s council meeting, said CCWA remains vigilant when policies and tenders come up for discussion.
“Cancer Council WA has a strong interest in working with and providing support to, Local Governments in WA working to reduce the risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases,” she said.
“Other local governments we are working with in WA are striving for smoke-free town centres and reducing exposure to unhealthy marketing, or adopting policies to restrict advertising on council signage that promotes unhealthy food.
“An award of tender to advertise on City of Canning community street furniture is an opportunity to create streets that further enhance health and support the vision for good health we all have for community, rather than allowing these industries to target children by promoting junk food, alcohol and e-cigarette and vaping products and services on council property.”
Council decided on Tuesday night to remove restriction on advertising from the tender.
Next week’s edition of Examiner News will cover the decision extensively.
