Palaszczuk Government takes action on offensive vehicle advertising

Commercial operators who refuse to remove offensive slogans from their vehicles will have their registrations cancelled under legislative changes introduced to Parliament this week

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland Government will introduce legislation after long-standing community concern about inappropriate advertising on vehicles.  

“With this legislation, vehicles registered in Queensland that display sexist, obscene or otherwise offensive advertising will face the prospect of having their registration cancelled,” the Premier said.

“These plans were announced in July and were supported by RACQ, Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) and the peak advertising industry body, the Australian Association of National Advertisers.

“I am pleased that this important initiative is now one step closer to becoming enforceable.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the Government’s action got the balance right between firm and fair.

“If the Advertising Standards Board (the Board) determines that an ad on a Queensland registered vehicle needs to be removed or modified, the registration holder will have a chance to make those changes,” the Minister said.

“If those changes aren’t made, the registration of the offending vehicle will be cancelled, simple as that.

“Rather than ignore Board determinations, as has sometimes been the case in the past, registered operators now have a good reason to make the required changes and fall in line with community expectations.”

Mr Bailey said the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) (Offensive Advertising) Amendment Bill 2016  has come about after extensive co-operation between the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and the ASB.

“Targeting these sexist, misogynistic and inappropriate slogans through registration cancellation has been an innovative solution,” Mr Bailey said. 

“Queensland is leading the way in this space and we’re working closely with other states and territories to promote a nationally consistent approach to vehicle registration laws on this issue.”

Media contact:          Zoe Russell – 0428 079 640