2019-11-26
The ACT Greens have today expressed disappointment that the ACT Government will maintain Alan Jones advertising on Transport Canberra buses – despite community outrage and a recent community petition tabled in the Assembly.
In September, the Greens sponsored a community petition initiated by Canberra Women in Business to ensure that Transport Canberra immediately remove all advertisements promoting people who make sexist public comments, including Alan Jones, from bus advertising, and ensure that promotion of people who make sexist public comments is added to the bans in the Transport Canberra advertising guidelines.
“Like most Canberrans, I find Mr Jones’ views appalling and harmful. His comments go beyond sexism and misogyny, he actually calls for violence against women,” ACT Greens spokesperson for Women and Transport Caroline Le Couteur said today.
“Even many of Alan Jones’ advertisers have come to their senses with reports today that around 50% of them have abandoned their support for his show.
“Unfortunately, today we learned that the ACT Government will continue to profit from a broadcaster who has repeatedly made these calls for violence.
“It’s disappointing that the ACT Government has decided that they simply won’t update the Transport Canberra guidelines to ensure that a broadcaster with Alan Jones’ reprehensible record isn’t promoted in our public space.”
The Greens do, however, welcome the Government’s commitment to ensure that there will not be any ACT Government advertising during the Alan Jones program.
This follows comments from Mr Jones in relation to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in August: “I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat.” And “Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders.”
Statement ends