Family First to censor sexy billboards

A QUEENSLAND senate candidate says she will run to ban risque billboards like the controversial Sexpo advertisement that caused controversy in Ipswich earlier this year.

Family First senate candidate Wendy Francis said she would use billboards in Ipswich from the end of this month to push her “Let’s make outdoor advertising G-rated” campaign slogan.

The Family First party could potentially take up the billboard where the Sexpo sign was erected in February this year, only to be torn down from its Dinmore location days later due to community backlash.

She said Family First and the majority of the community were sick of sexualised advertisements being seen by children on billboards.

“Our children deserve better; as adults it is our responsibility to provide a protecting and nurturing environment,” she said.

“I think some of the billboards out there wouldn’t be allowed on television before 9pm because they are too over-the-top sexually.”

She said because the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) was a self-regulatory industry body, it did not do enough to make sure billboards were censored to community standards.

The senate candidate said GOA Billboards refused to carry her G-rated slogan advertisement, but said she was in talks with other companies.

Ms Francis said she had not yet contacted Bishopp Outdoor Advertising, the owner of the Dinmore site that previously hosted the Sexpo billboard, but said she would like the location.

Bishopp managing director Brad Bishopp said they were open to potentially hosting the billboard.

“We’d have a look at any proposed advertisement and judge it on its merits from there,” he said.

GOA joint managing director Chris Tyquin said his group rejected Ms Francis’ proposed advertisement because it lacked detail.

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Sexpo billboard too hot to handle