The days of ordering a KFC feast after being swayed by advertising during the cricket could soon be a thing of the past, if the Teal independents have their way.
Two high-profile Teal MPs are calling for junk food advertising to be banned from Australian TV screens during most major sporting events, such as the current summer of cricket.
Dr. Sophie Scamps, a GP and MP for the seat of Mackeller on Sydney's Northern Beaches, introduced legislation to Parliament in June calling for a blanket ban on unhealthy food advertising on TV and radio between 6am and 9.30pm every day .
Dr. Scamps argues that there is a 'direct link between (junk food) advertisements and childhood obesity' and that the advertisements should therefore be removed from TV screens.
That would revolutionize sports coverage on TV, as cricket was inundated with advertising from KFC and Coca-Cola this week.
And it's not the first time the Teals – largely elected on a platform of action on climate change in wealthy urban seats in Sydney and Melbourne – have pushed restrictive health policies.
Under the new policy, advocated by Mackellar MP-doctor Sophie Scamps, this would no longer be the case
0Teals recently came together for a similar common goal: standing up for Hard Solo amid concerns that it made itself attractive to teens and children through the name associated with mainstream soft drink Solo
The group of independents, led by North Sydney MP Kylea Tink, came together earlier this year for a common purpose: campaigning against Hard Solo.
MPs were concerned that the alcoholic version of the popular soft drink – a favorite of Schoolies – would become attractive to teenagers and children.
After the campaign and complaints to the advertising watchdog, Hard Solo is renamed Hard Rated.
Producer Carlton United Breweries has been given until February 9 to roll out new merchandise before the product is removed from shelves in its current form.
Dr. Scamps and her fellow Teal MPs will need to secure the government's support to pass its junk food bill through the House of Commons.
She has expressed optimism that Anthony Albanese's government could support her bill and has received support from fellow Teal Independent, Monique Ryan.
Dr. Ryan is – just like Dr. Scamps – a doctor. He worked as a neurologist before beating one of the Coalition's most promising rising stars, Josh Frydenberg.
Cricket was awash with KFC advertising this week, with a steady stream of Coca Cola commercials too
The same rules would apply to streaming services such as Kayo and subscription-based models.
Meanwhile, the bill also recommends banning junk food advertisements altogether on social media and online to prevent exposure.
This includes, but is not limited to, crumbled and fried meats, burgers, hash browns, pizza, desserts and soft drinks.
The former GP argued at the time of introducing her bill that childhood obesity costs the healthcare system up to $11.8 billion annually.
She said the latest data suggests a quarter of children and two-thirds of adults in Australia are overweight or obese.
“We know that our children are exposed to more than 800 junk food ads every year on TV alone, and that there is a direct link between those ads and childhood obesity,” said Dr. Scamps.
If the Teal Independents have their way, junk food advertising will be banned from our TV screens during most major sporting events in the not-too-distant future in a bid to curb unhealthy eating habits
The Teals had great success with wealthy voters in Sydney and Melbourne in the 2022 election, advocating stronger action on climate change, the fight against corruption and gender equality.
Despite all being independent, the Teals have largely voted as one party, making it easy for the general public to bring them together, almost as if they were their own makeshift party.
They all supported the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and campaigned with Labor in the run-up to the referendum.
Ms. Tink, a former businesswoman, was particularly passionate about Hard Solo. She led the charge to change the name of the alcoholic drink, accusing the brand of 'failing the pub test' by appealing to children.
“As it exists now, as it is packaged, as it tastes, as it is called, it just doesn't pass the pub test,” she said at the time.
“I'd like to see it taken off the shelves and I'd like to see there's a conversation about what kind of products are coming to market.”
Dr. Scamps, Zali Steggall, Dr. Monique Ryan, Allegra Spender, Andrew Wilkie, Kate Chaney and Zoe Daniel all signed their names to a name change campaign.
Ultimately, it was determined that the company behind Hard Solo had violated industry advertising codes and the drink will now be called Hard Rated.
Products with the current branding must be off the shelves by February 9. 'A brand is much more than just the name,' says Tink.
“So, for example, if it's the same font, I would expect that to be inappropriate.
“Carlton United Brewery can absolutely relaunch this product, that's exactly what they need to do.”
It remains to be seen whether they will have similar success in the fight against junk food ads.