Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps has introduced a Private Members Bill in Federal Parliament
to tackle childhood obesity by restricting junk food marketing on television.
The Healthy Kids Advertising Bill proposes removing junk food ads from television and radio between 6am and 9:30pm, banning the content from online marketing and on social media, and imposing substantial fines on broadcasters, internet service providers and food companies which do not comply with the guidelines.
Dr Scamps, a former GP and emergency room doctor, said: “A quarter of our children are already on the path to chronic disease because they are over the healthy weight range.
“We know our children are exposed to over 800 junk food ads on TV alone every year, and that there is a direct link between those ads and childhood obesity.”
The bill has garnered support from various organisations, including the Australian Medical Association, Dietitians Australia, and the Heart Foundation.
Polling research conducted by the Australia Institute in 2022 shows strong public support for regulating unhealthy food marketing, revealing that most Australians (66 per cent) agree that junk food advertising during children’s viewing should be banned.