End in sight for alcohol advertising on public transport

Alcohol advertising is set to start disappearing from public transport, in line with a McGowan Government election commitment.

The changes will be phased in over this term of government, beginning with rail and digital billboard advertising, which is now in effect.

Alcohol advertising on train infrastructure has now stopped, while it will be phased out from buses in March 2019.

The changes will be phased in as agreed between the Public Transport Authority (PTA) and APN Outdoor, which holds two existing contracts covering the sale of advertising space on buses, trains and related infrastructure. Both contracts have some years still to run - to 2019 in the case of buses and 2022 for trains.

Though both contracts enable the PTA to restrict advertising under certain circumstances, legal advice indicated that it would be difficult to effect an immediate total ban on alcohol advertising.

Accordingly, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti directed that the contracts be allowed to run their course but that the replacement contracts or contract extension options incorporate an alcohol ban.

The PTA has negotiated with APN Outdoor to incorporate an alcohol ban into the current contracts as early as contractually practical.

The APN agreements currently generate revenue of about $8 million a year for the PTA, of which alcohol advertising accounts for about $160,000 (about two per cent). Advertising revenue helps to pay for transport services.

The McGowan Government is working with the alcohol industry to further reduce and restrict the advertising of alcohol at locations, and in ways that target children.