Sydney Airport declines ALP tax evasion policy billboard

Nicola Riches
By Nicola Riches | 16 April 2015
 

The Australian Labour Party (ALP) has been refused permission to display a billboard advertising its policy on corporate tax evasion at Sydney Airport on the grounds it contravenes its rules about political advertising.

The advertisement, previously wheeled out for the State elections and resurrected this weekend in light of strong public feeling about the recent hearings on corporate tax evasion, was subject to initial approval by APN Outdoor, which represents the airport's outdoor inventory, before it could confirm placement.

The creative, “Our tax policy will make multinationals pay their fair share,” is deemed to fall short of rules set out by Sydney Airport and agreed with APN that the airport site must be free of any political advertising.

The new set of rules was established a month ago when the airport signed a new five-and-a-half-year agreement with APN Outdoor for advertising rights at the T1 international terminal, T2 domestic terminal and for all exterior signage.

It is thought that some political advertisements have appeared at the airport, previously around the Federal elections. However, the new contract specifies that “the concessionaire must not display any advertisement containing obscene or offensive material or any material with political, religious or racial overtones.”

The Sydney Morning Herald, however, reports that the billboard's rejection rested less on the fact it contained a political message, but was banned on account of how it could be perceived as a “smear on multinationals”.

Fairfax makes reference to an email it had seen from an APN Outdoor staff member which said: "The issue was less that it was political but that the creative addresses foreign multinationals in a negative light, and because it is placed near the airport it's not the ideal location for that sort of message."

APN Outdoor chief executive Richard Herring is reported to have told Fairfax that a "junior employee" had presented their own interpretation, but that explanation did "not represent the position of APN Outdoor or Sydney Airport".

Email Nicola at nicolariches@yaffa.com.au.

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