The Centre for Independent Studies announces its inaugural nanny state awards, The Nannies. Highlighting the year’s worst examples of imposing regulations or promoting campaigns designed to prevent people exercising the right to think for themselves.
“Australia is a mature country with more than 15 million adults considered responsible enough to vote for its governments. However those governments don’t seem to consider us responsible enough to make many other decisions for ourselves,” said CIS policy analyst Helen Andrews, whose research specialisations include the nanny state.
“The Nannies will highlight the year’s most abysmal examples of trying to prevent, shield and badger us in the clear assumption that we are unable to — or should not be allowed to — make our own choices.”
The 2014 Nannies
Carmen smokescreened
WA Opera decided in October to axe a performance of Bizet’s Carmen because its setting in a tobacco factory may glamorise smoking – and the company has a significant sponsorship deal with Healthway, the West Australian Health Promotion Foundation. The WA government later intervened, directing the production to go ahead.
Sit, stay, roll over
The Australian Government Department of Health issued guidelines on how long everybody should sit, and how much physical activity should be experienced by various demographics, including infants from birth.
E-cigarettes stubbed out
The West Australian Supreme Court ruled e-cigarettes that don’t contain nicotine still breached the tobacco control act that prohibits any “food, toy or other product” from looking like cigarettes, and the WA government banned them.
Don’t think pink… or blue
No Gender December warned us of the evils of pink gifts for girls and blue gifts for boys, which can “perpetuate inequality” and “impact self-perception and career choices in later life”. The public was asked to pledge support for the campaign, and proclaim there would be no gendered gifts under their Christmas trees.
No joy in ride-sharing
NSW and Victoria ruled out smartphone apps that allow private drivers to be paid for offering lifts. The ride-sharing apps, led by global brand Uber, allow passengers to travel up to 50% cheaper than in a taxi. However the ban, strongly urged and supported by the Taxi Council, decrees that all paid drivers must be registered.
Look but don’t look
Several southern Sydney councils for the installation on main roads of large illuminated signs warning ‘distracted drivers cause accidents’. In addition to being a nanny statement, the signs themselves could well be a dangerous distraction. Recognising this, Roads and Maritime Services instructed they be removed.
Factory fiction
The Advertising Standards Board ruled against an ad that showed a man playing with items in a warehouse, including standing on the front of a moving forklift, throwing a box to a person in a bear suit, and walking along parcels. The advertiser responded that the ad was meant to show a fictional space, and that no warehouse would in real life include aspects such as a man in a bear costume, but the complaint was upheld and the ad pulled.