Ad watchdog says it will not rule on controversial anti-marriage equality ad
Despite receiving a number of complaints against the weekend’s anti-marriage equality ad from the Australian Marriage Forum the ad watchdog has announced it will not adjudicate the ad as it falls under the scope of political advertising.
In a blog post the Ad Standards Bureau (ASB) said: “ASB has decided not to bring this to the Board for adjudication as this advertisement falls under the scope of political advertising, and does not fall within the scope of the AANA Code of Ethics.
“Adjudicating on complaints about political advertising could be regarded as unduly restricting the implied constitutional freedom of political communication or interfering with the political process.”
The ad will run out of money and most reasonable people will see the completely stupidity of it.
I think there is some real damage going to be done to Ad Standards as an organisation. Can you imagine if the parents were aboriginal? And someone was making a claim they weren’t fit parents? Or if they were Muslim? I have no doubt this wouldn’t be considered political.
It’s own Code includes…
2.1 Advertising or Marketing Communications shall not portray people or depict material in a way which discriminates against or vilifies a person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, disability, mental illness or political belief.
If this ad doesn’t fall within that category, then nothing does. The coverage Ad Standards has gotten over this is damaging their reputation significantly.
I’m not clear on how this is a “political ad”? Is the AMF a political entity?
What makes this political and above the scrutiny of the ASB?
As opposed to simply discriminatory, vilifying, illogical tripe that should be treated like a Wicked Camper or Busty Metal Recycler ad?
The Ad was completely legit. The argument is reasonable and fair.
We should allow such Ad. Unless we are biased.
The argument that the Ad would cause damage is rubbish. We are not stupid.
Agreed Kim.
The ad is legitimate. Of course kids do better with a mum and a dad – that is basic truth and most single parents would I’m sure also agree and wish things were different (e.g. having a good present father or mother to help them raise their children) if that were possible.
Let’s keep families wholesome, stable and true with a mum and a dad to support our next generation.
That is not vilification – just basic common sense.
Actually Kim and Mark it isn’t true. The mere presence of a male and female couple raising kids is not the recipe for good outcomes for children. Either parent could be violent, alcoholic, uninterested in children, etc. You mean to say that is a better situation than a stable gay couple? Actually, it doesn’t really matter what you think because numerous studies (like this http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/.....ds/5574168) show that children of same sex couples may not just be perfectly fine but BETTER OFF.
Also if the people who made this ad really cared about families they would be investing in couples councilling, or ads to attach singles who vastly outnumber gay couples. They don’t of course because their agenda is anti-gay NOT pro-family.
Basic common sense says there’s no god either.
But the correlation between “faith” and prejudice seems remarkably strong.