Junk food advertising regulation on the table to protect kids
There was broad support from the health profession for Teal MP Dr Sophie Scamps in Parliament this week.
This week Dr Sophie Scamps MP introduced The Healthy Kids Advertising Bill 2023 to Parliament.
The AMA welcomes the leadership shown by Dr Scamps to put a stop to brazen marketing tactics that target children.
The Bill proposes banning junk food ads from TV and radio between the hours of 6.00am and 9.30pm. It would also place an outright ban on junk food marketing on social media and other online environments. The AMA supports this as one key preventive health measure aimed at improving the health outcomes and wellbeing for children.
Dr Scamps was joined by leading public health representatives at a media conference following the introduction of The Bill. This included AMA ACT President-Elect Dr Kerrie Aust, and spokespeople from the Public Health Association of Australia, Dieticians Australia, The Cancer Council and The Food for Health Alliance. The Bill was seconded by Dr Monique Ryan MP, with broader support from crossbenchers for the proposed legislation.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said the AMA supports the measure, which puts the health of Australia’s children before industry profits by restricting the targeting of children with unhealthy food advertising.
Professor Robson said there’s no silver bullet in preventative health and addressing the impacts of overweight and obesity on the population requires a broad suite of measures.
“Just last week we talked about shifting from a ‘sickcare’ health system to a healthcare system. This bill will help us do that and deserves to become law for the sake of the health of our children.”
