I saw our new Govenor General interviewed on the 7.30 Report, was impressed, and sent her the following email


 To: governor-general
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:35 PM
Subject: Inappropriate advertising.

Dear Ms Bryce,

                       First of all congratulations on your being appointed to the position of Governor- General, and after seeing you interviewed on the 7.30 report, I am sure that you will do the country proud.

 

 As you are a mother of five children, I am interested to know your feelings on the standard of advertising that we are subjected to these days.

 

Is it right that grand parents collecting young children from school have to fend off questions about “how to have longer lasting sex” or radio ads with lines asking, “Men do you want last longer in the bedroom?” or if you”suffer from premature ejaculation?”

When I was growing up “Bloody” was a bad word and now Gordon Ramsey uses the F word and verbal abuse as a gimmick in his TV cooking shows, and this behavior is rewarded as he is touted as some sort of celebrity.

 

I have asked all the Federal Politicians for their opinions on this subject, but am dismayed at the poor response even though the welfare of young children is at stake.

 

It was easier it seems, to tell me to complain somewhere else, but I thought as Politicians make the rules, they can have them amended to safeguard their youngest constituents.

 

Unless there is proper leadership in these matters, the standards of advertising will only deteriorate further, and to try and bring up children even in a half decent way, will only become more difficult.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Yours Faithfully

Hans Stephens.



This article was in the Sydney morning Herald and the highlighted lines below, caught my eye.

Since assuming the role last month, the former sex discrimination commissioner has rejected the notion that governors-general are merely rubber stamps for legislation.


By that, obviously the new Governor General has a mind of her own.

But now I'm not too convinced about  the "merely rubber stamps" line                            

This came in today

----- Original Message -----
From: Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
To: stephens1510@optusnet.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:05 AM
Subject: RE: Inappropriate advertising. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

 
Dear Mr Stephens

 

Thank you for your email to the Governor-General concerning standards of advertising.  

 

I regret that it is not possible for the Governor-General to reply personally.  As I am sure you will appreciate, Ms Bryce receives a large number of letters from all over Australia and overseas and while she values your concerns, the sheer volume precludes personal replies.

 

The Governor-General appreciates the time and trouble you have taken in writing to express your view on this matter, which have  been noted.  However, responsibility for such matters rests with the elected government of the day.  I am sure you would appreciate that it is not possible for the Ms Bryce to make personal comments* concerning this issue.  May I suggest if you wish to pursue this matter further that you contact the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy at Level 4, 4 Treasury Place, Melbourne Vic 3002 or alternately by email at minister@dbcde.gov.au.

 

Thank you once again for writing to the Governor-General.

 

Brien Hallett

Deputy Official Secretary to the Governor-General

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* Why can't the Govenor General make personal comments.

We need  leaders to stand up and give their view on something that affects the decent majority, 

unless of course Ms Bryce thinks that radio ads about "premature ejaculation" and "lasting longer in the bedroom"are suitable on daytime radio for young children to listen to.

I'm certain that a note to Senator Conroy from the Govenor General, voicing concern about the falling standards in advertising  would mean a lot more to the Senator, than one from me.