Regardless of if you think NSW is “heading in the right direction” politically, by now most NSW constituents would probably be (as I am) grateful that we are in a political advertising blackout. So why is it, then that SMH.com.au (and probably other) websites are still displaying annoying political banner ads?
Screenshot taken from SMH.com.au
From The Australian Electorial Commission :
Under Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, which is administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), election advertising in the electronic media is subject to a ‘blackout’ from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day to the end of polling on the Saturday. This three-day blackout effectively provides a “cooling off” period in the lead up to polling day, during which political parties, candidates and others are no longer able to purchase time on television and radio to broadcast political advertising.
So why doesn’t this law cover internet advertising? …perhaps the Pollies like the freedom this technical loophole gives them to harass us right until we mark that little box on Sunday. The site this ad points to is no better either. Except for the tiny “Authorised by” line, it eeks of the kind of campaign that’s been looked into in the past.
And let’s not get into the legitimacy of placing political ads like these on a news website (let alone TV stations, radio stations or any of the other “traditional” media outlets). The only saving grace is that the ad doesn’t appear to run while your in the nsw 07 election sub domain.
I’ll be glad when Sunday has come and gone… then at least the rest of Australia can start to enjoy the spin and lead up to the Federal Election!