New polling shows overwhelming public support to curb pervasive gambling, alcohol and unhealthy food advertising, as over 130 key organisations and leaders call on the Federal Government to seize this opportunity to protect children and improve long-term health outcomes.
Launched today, the national public health campaign, Give us an ad break, warns that relentless marketing of harmful products is driving increased consumption - and with it rising rates of cancer, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, mental ill health and financial hardship.
"Whether browsing online, scrolling your feed or watching sport, Australians, including children, are constantly exposed to ads for harmful products like alcohol," Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education CEO Ayla Chorley said.
"There is resounding community support for putting common sense limits on how these multi-million dollar companies can promote their products."
Under the current system, alcohol, gambling and unhealthy food companies are largely left to make their own rules about where, when and how they can advertise.
The Give us an ad break campaign is calling for the Federal Government to introduce a new piece of legislation - a Harmful Products Marketing Act.
The proposed law, modelled on Australia's world-leading tobacco legislation, would set clear, enforceable rules about when, where and how harmful products can be marketed, particularly where children are exposed, ensuring they can grow up free from relentless pressure to consume harmful products.
More than 130 organisations and leaders across health, sport, social services and research have signed a statement released today, joining the call to the Federal Government to prioritise community wellbeing - not industry profit.
The move has strong community support, with polling undertaken in February finding 4 in 5 Australians want less advertising for gambling, alcohol and unhealthy foods, and are concerned about the harm caused by these ads.*
"We hear from parents who simply want their children to enjoy sport without being surrounded by alcohol ads, and from people who feel targeted wherever they go, online and offline," Ms Chorley said.
"These companies collect extensive personal data to tailor advertising enticing people to buy more, which makes it very hard for people trying to cut out, or cut back."
VicHealth CEO Professor Anna Peeters AM said reducing children's exposure to harmful marketing is one of the most powerful steps towards improving the nation's long-term health.
"The environments our children grow up in shape their health for life. Right now, those environments are saturated with advertising for products linked to cancer, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and financial harm across the community. Reducing children's exposure to harmful marketing is one of the most effective prevention levers available. It is practical, evidence-based and will deliver benefits for generations," she said.
Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO Martin Thomas said, "Gambling losses in Australia, which are the world's highest per capita, not only have a financial impact but unleash immense social harm each day across our communities."
"The companies spend millions on marketing because they know it will result in profits through both short term sales and long-term normalisation of their harmful products, so they can hook in generations to come.
"They sell an idealised and glamourised experience because showing the reality wouldn't make them money. But when products are harmful, the result is just that: harm.
"We're calling on the government to step up and implement legislation that gives Aussies a fair go. Australia has led the way before; let's do it again."
Food For Health Alliance Executive Manager Jane Martin said, "These companies target children and young people with unhealthy food ads in places they know they'll see, like during prime time TV shows, at bus stops, and online.
"We know this advertising works, influencing our kids' behaviour, what they eat, want and ask for - and it's putting their future health at stake. We know the community wants to see this change. We have a chance now to set the stage for a better, healthier future."
*FARE commissioned Pureprofile to conduct a survey of 2015 Australians in February 2026. The sample was nationally representative for age, gender and location.
