Timber Communities Australia apologises for harmful election advertising / Pledges to work on educational brochures

This media release was jointly issued by the TGLRG and Timber Communities Australia on 16.9.09.

At a joint media event today, Timber Communities Australia (TCA) Tasmanian State Manager Barry Chipman handed over letters of apology to Martine Delaney and Peter Power for ads the TCA published during the last federal election.

Ms Delaney and Mr Power made complaints to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner over the TCA television advertisement aired during the run-up to the 2007 Federal Election.

The advertisement attacked Greens' policies relating to same-sex marriage and the legal recognition of intersex people - using poison symbols, danger signs and audio effects to describe these policies as extremely dangerous.

In the apology letters, TCA admitted that, while its intention was to deter voters from supporting the Greens, it inadvertently caused hurt and offence to same-sex attracted and intersex people.

TCA further committed itself to ensuring it is not involved in advertising campaigns of this nature in the future.

TCA also undertook to work with Ms Delaney on the production and distribution of brochures to inform families, health workers and the broader community about intersex conditions.

Mr Chipman said, "TCA's aim in airing the advertisement was purely political, with no intention of harming or offending any groups in Tasmanian society. When we became aware the ad was offensive to these groups, it was immediately withdrawn from broadcast."

"We regret the harm caused, assure you TCA will not be engaging in similar campaigns in future, and are pleased to be taking steps to address the lack of community knowledge which allowed intersex issues to be targeted in the advertisement."

Mr Power stated the settlement of the complaints in this manner is a very positive outcome. "We took these complaints because of our concerns about marginalised groups being used as cannon fodder in political battles. It's great that TCA has admitted it made a serious mistake, apologised and gone a big step further by helping to address the underlying issues of community awareness."

Ms Delaney, who last month settled complaints against the Liberal Party and members of the Exclusive Brethren over similar advertisements during the 2006 Tasmanian election, described today's outcome as a valuable notice to others engaging in next year's State elections.

"This settlement is an important step forward for public debate in Tasmania. Not only has TCA acknowledged its mistake, offered an honest apology and undertaken to not do this again, but it's also taking steps to ensure others can't so easily use the same tactics in future. I couldn't ask for more and my congratulations to TCA."

Ms Delaney added, "At the same time, I'm left feeling a bit sad today. TCA has made big effort to redress their actions, and even the Exclusive Brethren members issued a very public apology published in all three Tasmanian newspapers. Yet, the Liberal Party has neither apologised for its part in the Brethren advertisements nor ruled out the possibility of it using similar tactics in next year's elections."

For more information, contact
Barry Chipman - 0417 013 336
Peter Power - 0417 017 105
Martine Delaney - 0417 530 621