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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-12-02 Daily Xml
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ADVERTISING

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (14:38): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Transport, questions about advertising on public transport.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I am sure that most members are aware that, generally, I am absent during prayers. I am absent quite deliberately because I am an agnostic, and I think that we need to keep the state and religion separated. In that regard, members might be aware that the British Humanist Association has raised money to put a message on London buses, which will be happening, I think, in January. Those ads read, 'There is probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life.' In Washington, buses bearing a Christmas message from the American Humanist Association say, 'Why believe in a God, just be good for goodness sake.'

In Australia, the Atheist Foundation has raised $16,000 to fund similar advertisements on buses, but they have been refused by APN Outdoor, the company that manages public transport advertising in most Australian capitals, including Adelaide. According to the Atheist Foundation's President, Mr David Nicholls (who is a South Australian), APN Outdoor refused several sets of wording including: 'Atheism because there is no credible evidence'; 'Sleep in Sunday morning' (which I would hardly think is offensive); and 'Atheism: celebrate reason' with lots of smiley faces adorning the ads.

I have seen ads bearing quotes from the Bible. I recall one quoting John 3:16: 'God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son'. I know that some non-religious people find this offensive because they believe that, in a pluralistic society, religion is a private matter and that secularism is the only way to ensure that the rights of all religions are protected. It seems unlikely that a private company has complete control over the content of advertising on buses because, if that were so, I am sure the buses, our trams and trains would be splattered with ads for alcohol and junk food. My questions are:

1. Does the minister agree that it is discriminatory to allow religious ads but prohibit ads by atheists?

2. Has the government provided a set of guidelines to APN to regulate advertisements on public transport?

3. Do those guidelines allow religious ads and prohibit ads by atheists?

4. Will the minister undertake to provide a copy of those guidelines to the council?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her questions and will refer them to the Minister for Transport in another place and bring back a response.

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