Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 3:04 PM

Subject: Spam: RE: Inappropriate advertising

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) can directly receive complaints about radio advertising that relates to medicines. They do require those that have a complaint to send the complaint first to the radio station, and then they can act if there has been no reply within 60 days. The web page is: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=CONTACT_COMPLAINTS_OVIEW#radio

I have copied elements of that and other pages for your information:

Commercial radio complaints.

If you have heard something on the radio that you think breaches a code or standard, the first thing to do is to make a complaint in writing directly to the station you heard it on.

If you have already made a complaint to the station and have either not had a response within 60 days, or aren't satisfied with their response, you can make a complaint to ACMA.

ACMA cannot accept complaints about the quality or scheduling of programs, or the content of advertisements.

http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_90140

Complaints ACMA can handle

If you wish to complain to ACMA about a matter concerning a television or radio program that is covered by a code of practice, you must, by law, have first made your complaint directly to the relevant station. If you are dissatisfied with the station's response or if the station does not answer your complaint within 60 days, you may then complain to ACMA.

However, you may complain directly to ACMA if it relates to one or more of the following matters:

television captioning
tobacco advertising
political advertising
election material
sponsorship announcements on community radio
access to membership of a community radio association
advertisements about medicine
matters relating to the Children's Television Standards, or the Australian Content Standard, or the anti-siphoning rules
captioning on digital, free-to-air services

Note that licence conditions contained in the Broadcasting Services Act (other than those for captioning) do not apply to ABC or SBS services. The ABC and SBS each have its own Act and charter.

To make a complaint in writing directly to ACMA , you can print and complete ACMA complaint form and send it to ACMA.

I do not recall hearing such an advertisement, but in any case I cannot make the complaint on your behalf. If I hear the same advertisement myself, I to will forward my complaint, as I agree they are highly inappropriate.

Do you recall which station it was on?

From: stephens1510

Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 6:00 PM

Subject: Re: RE: Inappropriate advertising

thank for your personal reply.

I take on board, your advice about my complaining to the "right people" first, but then it gets tangled up in red tape.

The ads had been on for weeks, (although they have gone to a tamer version at the moment)

They're on about "erectile dysfunction" at the moment.

I had the the inappropriate ad subject on an internet forum and the overwhelming responses against the ad, proved it wasn't my just me.

Can I take up a little more of your time and give you more information in a "copy and paste"of an email that I will send out later to those ministers/office of, that don't reply to my first email ,

............................................................................

On the ..... I emailed you about my concern with what I, and many others I've spoken to, consider to be inappropriate language in radio advertising.

I have been disappointed with the lack lustre response that my email has generated from my elected leaders.

Obviously ministers are very busy, but I did think there could be a spare moment in their hectic schedule to address my concerns about something that could have a detrimental effect on the youngest members of the electorate.

No doubt mail has to be prioritized, but this issue should be important to all ministers, and giving me a link to a department that is ineffective, doesn't solve the problem for our children.

One ministers office did reply thus:

I understand the various advertising techniques by this company have previously been through the official complaints processes and survived. With the recent change of Minister it might be opportune for us to write and suggest a revision of the advertising standard that applies to this type of product.

I have a feeling that the Advertising Standards Board's decision makers would very quickly have another look at the wording of these "one sniff and you're stiff" type ads (and future ones,) if all ministers thought it

" might be opportune for us to write and suggest a revision "

and did sent them a little note. (from the Prime Minister down)

This is not to have them banned necessarily of course, but to have different more acceptable wording, or rescheduled to a more child friendly time.

Another of example where change is needed.

Common sense really.

Wouldn't it be more effective if our elected leaders instead of nodding wisely and agreeing that, yes speeding is a major cause of death and injury on our roads, legislate that car advertising on TV and in other media can NOT emphasis power and speed in their advertisements which in fact actually target the very demographic age group, that is statistically over represented in those that do the speeding, and dying in overpowered vehicles.

Car manufacturers would still advertise, but would change the content.

VW is an example of a company the uses sensible advertising.

Re my "inappropriate advertising" email, most responses I have received so far have been in the nature of:

"I have passed on your concerns on to....."

"not being in the ministers portfolio"

"are you in the ministers electorate? or

" here is a link where you can send your concerns to"

But the vast majority of my emails have not been acknowledged at all, and no doubt there would be denials of ever getting one, or the usual "I have been advised" type of answers if questions are asked about a lack of comment at a later date.

In this day of very instant communication, an mail of a couple of lines would be appreciated in this matter and what can be done about this sort of advertising in the future.

Thank you for your time.

..................................................................................

Thanks for your time Luke, all the best