Hansard: State Trading Concerns Act, Gardiner
Author: Philip Gardiner
Published on: 10-August-2010
One of the early debates in the Legislative Council following the winter recess concerned a disallowance motion on an amendment to the schedule of the State Trading Concerns Act. Among other areas the Act defines ways in which Government agencies may raise revenue with this particular amendment proposing to include the Departments of Transport and Communities and the Swan River Trust in its ambit. Some members raised concerns as to how the amendment would allow agencies to utilise a range of advertising options, including by way of billboards, to generate income. Philip supported the disallowance motion that was ultimately negatived.
HON PHILIP GARDINER: I suspect that I do not speak for all Nationals but I certainly speak for some. I shall never forget my experience when I first went to London. I was walking down Piccadilly for the first time in the early 1970s and saw all the billboard advertisements across the street on the buildings, and I thought how ugly they looked. I rise tonight because I have some sympathy with the issue that Hon Ken Travers raised. I also respect that for each of us, advertising billboards, if they have any artistry, are a very individual taste. I do not want what I saw in Piccadilly, London, in 1972 reflected in our cities and towns, and even along our roads.
Probably since around the mid-1980s, streetscaping has become a profession in itself. I expect that streetscaping is mainly controlled under the jurisdiction of the local council in which it occurs, but these controls also apply to the way bus shelters are designed, when advertisements can be placed on them; how street signs are designed, in matters such as their font and style; seats along streets or in parks; and tree guards. It is a consistent sight: when it is done tastefully, it brings the city alive; when it is done poorly, it denigrates a place terribly. We already see advertising on a number of our public vehicles—on our buses and taxis.
As I recall, we do not have advertising on our trains. Rules apply to where signs can be placed on country roads. Sometimes the rules create no advantage because signs have to be a certain distance back from the edge of the road, except, unfortunately, when it comes to an election. Who disobeys the rules most when it comes to an election? Once again, that advertising is ugly, even though we need to get information out about who we are. Rules are disobeyed when signs are placed on trees; I think that is irresponsible. I believe it is also illegal when it comes to the way Main Roads Western Australia applies its rules. We want billboards in our cities and by our roads, or wherever they might be in our metropolitan area, that represent some sense of style, some sense of dignity and some sense of modesty. I respect that each of our views will be different. We want some sense of artistry—not a crass, tawdry affair.
I have some sympathy with the motion proposed by Hon Ken Travers. I would like some assurance from the government, if it is under our jurisdiction, concerning how far we will go in terms of advertising and the tenor of what is proposed. I assume this Parliament has the jurisdiction to do that, but I also understand that city councils have their jurisdictional powers as well. I would like to hear what is expected to be put up so we can have a city which I think the vast majority of us would be proud of.
