Advertising ban on cigarettes?

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 13

Advertising ban on cigarettes?

fN.Z.P.A. Staff Crspdt)

SYDNEY.

Sponsorship of Australian sport and culture worth over $3 million a year is in jeopardy now that Federal and state politicians have declared an interest in banning all forms of cigarette advertising.

The Federal Minister for Health (Mr Ralph Hunt), announced that the Federal Government has endorsed the decision of the previous Labour administration to ban cigarette advertising on radio and television from September 1.

Mr Hunt surprised journalists by going further and declaring that the six state Ministers for Health would be looking at the prospect of banning all other forms of cigarette advertising. These included displays in the newspapers and magazines, hoardings, cinema advertising and the sponsorship of sport, culture and community events.

Sponsorship of sport by cigarette companies is thought to be worth over $2.5 million a year in Australian, while assistance to culture is worth at least $500,000, probably more. Mr Hunt said that his Government could ban only radio and television advertisements, since they were the only form of advertising that came under direct Federal control. All other forms were under the control of the state ministers: the states had

agreed to examine the subject. Asked why his Government was considering such strong steps, Mr Hunt said there was sufficient evidence to show that smoking could cause very serious health problems, and it could be a killer if people smoked to excess.

Mr Hunt said he would be concerned if any cuts in the sponsorship of sport and culture caused a disability in the community, but the fact remained that cigarettes were a health hazard. There would be no instant ban. In the case of radio and television advertising, the Labour Government had given a three year warning of the September cut, and warnings would be given in future if other forms of cigarette advertising were to be phased out.