PRESSURE on the advertising industry over its responsibility for Australia’s child obesity problem intensified this week when the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Larry Anthony told a conference he hates advertisers.
“As a parent—it is pester power and we hate you guys,” Anthony told the Kid Power 2003 conference in Sydney.
However The Australian Association for National Advertisers has been active in defending the industry and is close to launching an ad aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles.
AANA chaiman Ian Alwill said it is currently working through issues surrounding the campaign with state and federal governments that require further discussion and are not yet resolved.
The campaign was created by McCann-Erickson and B&T Weekly was told by an industry source it has been seen by Anthony who “liked it”.
Alwill has said previously he hoped the campaign would have the same impact as campaigns such as Slip, Slop, Slap and Life. Be in It.
Anthony told advertisers at the conference they had a social responsibility and suggested that it would be good if “instead of the Big Brother reality shows we saw one on good parenting”.
McDonald’s is one advertiser that has already taken steps to battle the issue—it doesn’t advertise during children’s viewing times.
