2022-03-22
ACT Greens MLA Jo Clay and candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo will host an art pop-up in Civic today of work by John Voir to boost awareness for the campaign to promote art, not ads in public spaces in the ACT.
The event will align with the tabling of this e-petition by Federal Greens candidate Tim Hollo (sponsored by Jo Clay MLA).
The petition called on the ACT Government to:
- Direct Transport Canberra and Access Canberra to immediately remove all existing illegal advertisements.
- Introduce specific offences for roadside advertising using parked vehicles.
- Remove public transport advertisements that block passengers’ ability to see outside.
- Review and update the rules for what advertising content is allowed on public transport and apply these rules to bus and tram shelters as well as vehicles.
- End bus shelter ads by committing to not renewing the Adshel contract.
Noting that advertising contributes to approximately 0.586% of the total cost of Transport Canberra operations, the petitioners also request the Assembly undertake consultation on the community support for replacing all public transport advertisements with locally commissioned artwork.
Statements attributable to Tim Hollo, Greens candidate for Canberra:
“Canberrans love how our green, nature filled city is almost completely free of advertising. The longstanding ban is supported by over 90% of Canberrans, but it’s under threat.
“Outdoor advertising is socially, economically and environmentally destructive, as well as ugly and unpopular. Just because big corporations want to take over public space to sell their products doesn’t mean we have to hand it over to them.
“Ever since the 2018 attempt to weaken Canberra’s excellent and popular limits on advertising in our public space was thwarted by the Keep Canberra Ad Free campaign, the government has not demonstrated a commitment to enforcing these laws.”
“Illegal ads are still popping up around our city. We want to see a serious government response, removing illegal ads or replacing them with public art.
“To make sure this problem is taken seriously, we’ve started mapping illegal ads in Canberra, and we’re calling on the Canberra community to help us.”
Statements attributable to Jo Clay, Greens MLA and arts spokesperson
“With the support of over 500 people, the petition for a clampdown on illegal advertising has been referred to the Planning, Transport and City Services Committee.
“The government now has three months to respond. I hope that this can be the trigger for a really thoughtful conversation about what we want to see in our public spaces.”
Statements attributable to John Voir , local artist
“The pop-up will be a digital collage representing reclaimed advertising spaces in the Canberra landscape.
“The concept is ‘art is advertising for the things we need’, as opposed to advertising for the things we don’t need.
“It's a digital collage with an original artwork repurposing an existing large-scale advertisement. The installation shows how reclaiming spaces currently occupied by advertising enriches the existing landscape of Canberra, rather than mortgaging its beauty to businesses.”
Media Note: Outdoor ads, including house for sale signs on nature strips or billboards on the side of businesses, are illegal: The Roads and Public places Ordinance 1937, Section 12 states: “Any person who, without the permission of the Minister or an authorised officer, exhibits, by any means whatsoever, upon any property of the Commonwealth in or adjoining any public place, any advertisement or notice shall be guilty of an offence.”