Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today gave notice that he will re-introduce the Democrats' Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008 to ban junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours.

"Access Economics estimates the cost of obesity to the community is $58 billion a year. Only 1 per cent of food advertising promotes healthy food. The other 99 per cent promotes fast food, soft drinks, ice cream and other junk food," Senator Brown said.

The Rudd government should amend its bill which would allow spy agencies such as ASIO and police the ability to intercept, without a warrant, phone calls and emails going to or from persons not suspected of involvement in criminal or terrorist activities, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today.
 

Greens Leader Bob Brown, in Launceston today, called on Liberal MHR Michael Ferguson to justify a brochure attacking the Greens which, itself, admits referencing discarded Greens policies.
 
The brochure is being letterboxed in Bass.
 
"The brochure makes claims which have never been Greens policy.  Other policies quoted have long been replaced.  It is equivalent to claiming the Liberals advocate capital punishment or war with North Vietnam. They used to, but do not now.  This is a calculated effort to deceive Tasmanian voters," Senator Brown said.
 

 
 
 Greens call for junk food ad ban. 
  
"Prime Minister Howard's new ad-free digital ABC TV option for children will leave most kids splattered by junk-food ads," Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
 
"The new ad-free channel is a good idea, but it is no antidote to the fact that most kids will still be watching the commercials."
 

An EMRS opinion poll shows the Greens vote across Tasmania rising from 10% to 15% since the approval of Gunns' Tamar Valley pulp mill project.
 
In Bass the vote has jumped from 10% to 18%.
 
"This complements yesterday's Newspoll indicating growing support for the Greens as environment managers," Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said.
 

If Parliament resumes next week Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown will introduce a private members bill requiring the total amount of taxpayers' money spent on government advertising to be included in every advertisement.
 
"The aim of the bill is to name and shame governments who use taxpayers' money on blatantly political advertising. It will allow taxpayers to see exactly how much of their money is being spent by self-serving governments," Senator Brown said.
 

If the Prime Minister doesn't call the election this weekend, I will introduce a private members' bill when Parliament resumes next week requiring the total amount of taxpayers' money spent on government advertising to be included in every advertisement.

The aim of the bill is to name and shame governments who use taxpayers' money on blatantly political advertising. It will allow taxpayers to see exactly how much of their money is being spent by self-serving governments.

Greens Leader Bob Brown today renewed calls for the Prime Minister to ban junk food advertising during children's TV viewing hours as part of the fight against childhood obesity.
 
"What's inside the fridge won't change because there's a fridge magnet on the door," Senator Brown said.
 
"It's pretty useless sending out one fridge magnet on healthy eating to every school child if they continue to get bombarded with hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising promoting junk food on television," Senator Brown said.