Senate Enquiry
An important message from Julie Gale, Director of Kids Free 2B Kids in partnership with Young Media Australia about your opportunity to contribute to the Senate inquiry into the early sexualisation of children in Australia.
The Australia Senate has announced an inquiry into the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment and is calling for submissions.
It is an open inquiry which means anyone can write a submission. Please take the time to make a difference for our children. This is your opportunity to have a say and an opportunity to help instigate change.
Please pass this excellent news onto anyone you think may be interested.
For an easy way to make a submission now Click Here .
Kids Free 2B Kids believes that urgent Government action is required concerning:
- Sexualised imagery on billboards
- Sexualised Music Video Clips in children's viewing hours.
- Content in Young Girls Magazines which are NOT regulated.
- Sexualised merchandise - clothing, toys etc... marketed to children and young teens.
- Pornographic Magazines available at children's eye levels in newsagents, petrol stations, 7/11's, corner stores etc...
- Sexualised advertising on radio.
- Inappropriate TV programming/advertising in children's viewing hours
- Easy access to Pornography on the internet
- Self-Regulation of the Advertising Industry. The Advertising Industry regulates itself and has a voluntary code of ethics. It is a reactive system and will only act if there are complaints from the public. As most people do not know how or where to complain it effectively means that the Advertising standards Board does NOT reflect prevailing community standards.
Kids Free 2B Kids supports The Australia Institute's statement:
"As different media (print, radio television) become less distinct due to technological advances, it will become increasingly desirable to bring all media regulation together in one statutory system. At this point a new opportunity to stop children's premature sexualisation will emerge. An all-encompassing office of media regulation could include a division with the primary responsibility of protecting children's interests in the contemporary media environment'.
The sustained public criticism of the sexualisation of children has had no apparent effect upon the practices of advertisers and markets.
Such an inadequate response to both public and professional concern about the increasing sexualisation of children suggests that the advertising and marketing industry is unlikely to restrain itself.
If Australians wish to reduce the potential for children to be harmed in a variety of ways by premature sexualisation, it seems that some sort of formal government restraint beyond existing regulation of relevant areas will be necessary."
‘Letting Children be Children - Stopping the sexualisation of children in Australia'
Emma Rush & Andrea La Nauze. The Australia Institute Dec 2006
Add your voice to the growing numbers of the community who want to stop the premature sexualisation of children by advertisers and commercial interests.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 18 April 2008.
Writing A Submission Made Easy.
There are 2 options for making a difference.
Option 1
Submit a prepared statement online. Kids Free 2B Kids has prepared an easy online submission to the Senate committee.
Making a submission attracts certain rights and responsibilities under parliamentary privilege and you are encouraged to read information about this before submitting this document.
For further information about making a submission click here. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/ecita_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/index.htm
If you agree with this format, add your name, address and phone number for verification, and click submit.
You can alter the submission as you wish. Adding your own comments will add to the value of the submission.To submit a prepared submission of concern online click here
Option 2
Write your own submission.
For further information about writing a submission and where to send your email or letter click here. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/ecita_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/index.htm
A submission may be as short or as long as you like. It may contain facts, opinions, arguments or recommendations. It may cover all the points in the terms of reference or only some of them, depending on what interests you. Supporting documents may be attached.
Submissions may be sent to The Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts, PO Box 6100 Parliament House, CANBERRA ACT 2600, or faxed to 02 6277 5818.
Email Address - eca.sen@aph.gov.au.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 18 April 2008.