ACT government ministers will next month meet with the national advertising standards board, as they continue to pursue changes to planning regulations to prevent the use of what they say is sexist material to promote housing developments.
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The push has enraged the target of the crackdown, with Geocon managing director Nick Georgalis declaring any attempts to censor "creativity, individuality and expression" will prompt appeals to the Human Rights Commission and High Court.
It's the second time this week Mr Georgalis has reacted angrily to an ACT politician's complaint about its advertising, after he accused the Greens' Caroline Le Couteur of targeting Geocon to lift her public profile.
Planning Minister Mick Gentleman said he and Minister for Women Yvette Berry would next month meet with the Advertising Standards Bureau to discuss concerns about how Geocon depicts females in marketing material.
The two parties have been at odds over whether the material meets national advertising guidelines and community exceptions.
In October, the bureau dismissed a complaint alleging material promoting Geocon's Tryst development was "sexualised and demeaning". In its judgment, the bureau found the material complied with Australian standards, even declaring that it depicted women as "comfortable and confident".
Ms Berry wrote to the bureau after the decision was handed down, saying the panel's view's appeared to be "out of touch with members of the Canberra community".
Then, after Geocon's International Women's Day event in March drew renewed scrutiny to its marketing campaign, Mr Gentleman revealed the government was exploring how the planning system could be used to regulate commercial advertising in order to prevent "sexist advertising". This week, Mr Gentleman said the planning directorate continued to look into how it could "provide greater oversight on hoarding signage, site fencing and associated advertising for building sites".
"I and other ministers have made it clear to Geocon that its advertising doesn't meet community expectations," he said.
Mr Georgalis claimed the government's push was a ploy to punish Geocon for not "pandering" to unions.
Mr Georgalis said the advertising standards bureau had assured Geocon that its campaigns did not not breach Australian guidelines.
He said the government's push to restrict its advertising was a waste of taxpayer money and resources. Any attempts to "censor creativity, individuality and expression" would result in "numerous" appeals, he warned.
"Our advertising is not sexist but empowering and has a positive impact to the community," he said.
Geocon's marketing was back in the spotlight this week after Ms Le Couteur raised concerns about a video promoting the developer's Grand Central Towers project, which said future residents would be able to catch the light rail from Woden to the city in less than 10 minutes.