Ad ban may counter stimulus

Moves by federal advisory organisation, the National Preventative Health Taskforce, to ban advertising junk food and alcohol under certain conditions would dampen economic activity, according to the Advertising Federation of Australia.

“This is not the time to destimulate the economy, certainly not when $20 billion is being spent stimulating it,” notes Mark Champion, the group’s executive director.

The taskforce has recommended a ban on junk food ads before 9pm and a tightening of alcohol advertising in sport. Last year, a similar proposal in the UK fell over when the British Government admitted restrictions could negatively affect the economy.

The advertising industry contributes $30 billion a year to the economy.

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