My first email to all Federal Politicians.

Dear minister,
                 Sitting in my car Monday afternoon (18 Feb ) listening to commercial radio, four times in the space of one hour an advertisement came on asking "Men, do you want longer lasting sex?" and you could ring a "doctor" on an 1800 number for help.
This was between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm
.
How many mothers and schoolchildren are afflicted continually with this ad ?
 
Is it right that parents or grandparents have to fend off questions from youngsters about  "pre-mature ejaculation" on the way home from school?
 
Businesses have every a right to sell their product, but do you think that this is the correct way to do it?
 
What can be done to curb this sort of advertising content or at least the time it is allowed to air.
If it was a TV show there would be disclaimers such as "Adult themes" or "Sexual references"?
 
 But children seem to be fair game on daytime radio.
 
Should our young children have to exposed to this obvious lax censorship?
 
Yours faithfully
Hans Stephens

Although looking back I could have worded my email better, what I sought was an opinion and the obvious agreement that the ads were totally out of order.
  I expected, most of the Ministers would ring or email the "right" person  to also convey their outrage over these ads and insist that they be taken off daytime radio.


My second Email

April 08

to Politicians who hadn't replied to the first.

Dear minister,

                        I wrote to you and all the Federal Government Ministers (both sides of the chamber) in February seeking your/their opinion on advertisements which I consider to be inappropriate to be aired during the day.

Surprisingly I have only received a small number of replies back, and most were of a “not my portfolio” and “here is who you should write to” variety. (And giving a link)

 

 One minister’s office wrote back,

 Hans,

 

Your sentiments are very much echoed by myself personally.

I only commented to a colleague the other day how inappropriate I felt the ads were.

Let's hope they will be stopped

 

Leonie

Not  “stopped” just rescheduled to a more child friendly time.

 

Adult advertising like these should be on only at adult times.

 

 Why I had the temerity to ask ministers first, is self evident from the reply (below) that I received from a minister’s office the very next day after my first email, and obviously an email from a minister’s office (or minister) carries a lot more weight than an ordinary citizen

 

Hello Hans

 

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.

Thanks for bringing this example to our attention - do you happen to know what radio station it was on?

Julie

 

If I had written to the Advertising Standards Bureau, would I have received a reply in just over 24 hours, and with the information that the minister’s office had received?

 If the Advertising Standards Bureau had received queries from ¾ of the Federal Ministers, about these advertisements, maybe they could be prompted to have a revision of regulations re advertising content during the day.

 

I thought that because these advertisements are obviously unsuitable for youngsters this would happen, but I was asked questions like,

 

 Would you be kind enough to let me know whether you live in the Bennelong electorate? 

Thank you for contacting my office regarding your concerns. Just wondering if you live in the Electorate of Brand?

Or 

 Are you a constituent of the Forde electorate?

 

I thought the welfare of children would cross Electoral boarders, as these advertisements are Australia wide

 

Young children don’t need to hear on the car radio on the way to school ads about “premature ejaculation” or “How to have longer lasting sex"

 

Parents have enough trouble bringing up children today without this overt style of advertising, which is becoming  more and more prevalent on and in the media. 

 

So please could you please spare a moment to have a look at an issue that could have a detrimental affect on the youngest in our community.

Thank you for your time.

 

Yours Faithfully

Hans Stephens


 Third email sent on 10th September 08


Dear Minister,
 
In February and April this year I sent all Federal Ministers and others, emails about my concern about adult sex aid advertising on daytime radio.
 
Thank you to those that did take my emails seriously, realising that it was done for the welfare of young children and common decency. 
 
Inexplicably I received no acknowledgement of my emails from the majority of Ministers.
 
Most of the ones that did reply, more or less told me to go elsewhere, if I was worried that young children were being exposed to ads about "premature ejaculation" and "lasting longer in the bedroom" as "it was not their portfolio", or it was the "we'll get back to you asap," type of response, (and they didn't)
 
One minister wrote
 
"Unfortunately an email by every member in federal parliament to the ASB demanding instant change would not make any difference in this case.  The only way that advertising standards can be adjusted is through legislation, which must go through Parliament."
 
I didn't expect "instant change" but what would get faster action from the ASB, an email from 150 federal ministers voicing their concerns about radio advertising, (and what responsible adult wouldn't be concerned?) or one email from me?
 
 How long would it take if all ministers on both sides of the chamber agreed, to get advertising standards adjusted through legislation?
 
Do advertising censorship regulations need to be amended, so they are more effective?
 
The "Longer lasting sex" billboards which are an affront to all, except those that profit from them, have only just been banned, though not yet removed.
 
If the billboards are deemed inappropriate, why aren't they ordered to be removed immediately?
 
I have set up a website  www.protectkids.com.au  where you can view all the replies I received, and other information which is updated regularly.
 
 
Yours faithfully
Hans Stephens

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This should also have been in the email.

."If the ASB had real power it would have the banned billboards removed in 48 hours, and if it costs someone money, then in future they might think, before posting inappropriate content."