The Department of Transport has launched action against vehicles used to advertise material that is sexually explicit, discriminating or offensive and has declared it will no longer be tolerated after new laws are passed in the Parliament.
The Road Traffic (Vehicles) Amendment (Offensive Advertising) Bill 2022 will provide the Department with the power to cancel or refuse licence applications for vehicles that promote advertising deemed offensive by the AD Standards Agency.
Under the changes, Western Australians who believe advertising on a vehicle to be degrading, obscene or insensitive can now lodge a complaint with Ad Standards, which will assess the advertisement against the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics.
If the advertisement is found to be in breach of the code, the advertiser will be given notice to modify or remove it.
If a vehicle owner fails to comply, Ads Standards will refer the matter to the Department, which can then suspend or cancel the vehicle licence.
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti said the Bill aligned the State with other Australian jurisdictions, which have implemented similar legislation to prohibit offensive advertising on vehicles.
“People deserve to live in a community that is free from disrespectful language and behaviour, and we are committed to preventing and ending violence against women,” Ms Saffioti said.
The Minister for Women’s Interests, Simone McGurk, agreed.
“No one should have to put up with advertising on the roads that is disrespectful towards women, and contrary to current community standards,” Ms McGurk said.
“I am pleased that the WA community will no longer be subject to this inappropriate and offensive material.”
