Page 3974 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 2010
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MS HUNTER: and as an opportunity for us, as community representatives, to discuss—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mr Coe! Ms Hunter, one moment. Mr Barr?
Mr Barr: Mr Hanson just inferred that Ms Hunter’s priorities were “up her arse”. I think he should be required to withdraw that.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I did not actually hear that but, given that it has been drawn to my attention, Mr Hanson, please withdraw.
Mr Hanson: I withdraw.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson. Ms Hunter, you have the floor.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I am pleased that I did not hear such a disgusting remark in a place like this.
I put this motion to the Assembly today as a means of maintaining the public debate and as an opportunity for us as community representatives to discuss how we deal with the issue and hopefully reduce its prevalence in our community.
Following publication of the reports, on 15 August 2007 the Senate passed an Australian Democrats motion noting the harmful effects of the sexualisation of children in the media. On 12 March 2008, the Senate referred the matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts for inquiry and report. The committee presented its report, The sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment, in June 2008, and the government tabled its response to the report in August 2009.
Following the referral of the issue to the Senate committee, a review of the Australian Association of National Advertisers’ code for advertising and marketing communications to children was undertaken and the code subsequently revised so that it now specifically prohibits the use of sexual imagery of children in advertising or marketing, whether in print, on television or online. Whilst this was a good first step, it is still a self-regulated system and there are still images of children in very adult and arguably sexualising poses circulating in a range of media today.
Since that time, there have been many media articles as well as television and radio features, a number of books written and a wide range of research and resource material published on the issue. There are a number of organisations such as the Australian Psychological Society, Kids Free 2B Kids, the Australian Council on Children in the Media, Young Media Australia and the Australian Childhood Foundation that actively campaign on the issue.
The distinction between sexuality and sexualisation is stark. Sexual development is a healthy and normal part of childhood and growing up and definitely is not
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