Tobacco advertising ban in Australia 

International background

The connection between cigarette smoking and lung cancer was already evident by the 1920s. It was, however, in the middle decades of the twentieth century that evidence of the links became more widely known and accepted.
 

The influential British Medical Journal published results of a study in 1950, and in 1956 the first report of the British Doctors Study, a study of some 34 000 doctors, linked smoking to both lung cancer and coronary thrombosis. The United States (US) Surgeon-General announced in 1964 that smoking caused lung cancer. In 1965 cigarette advertising on United Kingdom (UK) television was banned, and health warning labels became compulsory on US cigarette packets.

 

Tobacco advertising in Australia

The Australian Government had supported the tobacco industry through preferential tariffs since 1901, and since 1955 more directly through a research body, the Central Tobacco Advisory Committee (CA 407). Adopting a staged approach, the Menzies government introduced a voluntary tobacco advertising code for television in 1966.
 

In 1971 the advertising code was strengthened and extended to radio. By this time both the UK and US had banned cigarette advertising on radio and television. In 1972 the McMahon government introduced mandatory health warnings for radio and television tobacco advertisements.

 

The move to a ban on tobacco advertising

In 1973 the Whitlam government decided to phase out tobacco advertising. The change in government in 1975 meant the Fraser ministry faced a decision on whether to implement or delay the total ban. In a submission to Federal Cabinet, Health Minister Ralph Hunt outlined the medical evidence against smoking and its financial and health costs to the community.
 

In an opposing Cabinet submission, Post and Telecommunications Minister Eric Robinson argued that the government needed more time to evaluate the issues and to hear from interested parties.
 

Supported by the Department of Primary Industry and the Department of Industry and Commerce, he endorsed the tobacco, broadcasting and advertising industries.
 

Despite Robinson's arguments Cabinet determined to continue with the ban and it came into effect on 1 September 1976.

 

Record holdings

The National Archives holds numerous records relating to the tobacco industry and the lead-up to the ban on tobacco advertising. The table below lists a selection of these records and includes correspondence files, policy files, reports and Cabinet Office files.

 

Department of Health (CA 17)

 

Title or description of record	Date range	Series, item number
Commonwealth/State action on smoking and lung cancer	1963–67	A1851, 1964/711
Commonwealth/State action on smoking and lung cancer	1967–70	A1851, 1967/3819
Commonwealth/State action on smoking and lung cancer	1972	A1851, 1970/8051
Harmful effects of smoking – correspondence between health authorities on advertising/publicity education	1963–65	A1851, 1964/714
Harmful effects of smoking – correspondence between health authorities on advertising/publicity education	1965	A1851, 1965/1100
Harmful effects of smoking – correspondence between health authorities on advertising/publicity education	1965–67	A1851, 1965/2608
Harmful effects of smoking – correspondence between health authorities on advertising/publicity education	1965–69	A1851, 1968/829
Report of United States Surgeon-General on smoking and health	1964–67	A1851, 1964/715
Smoking harmful effects correspondence with the US Health and Legislation authorities	1970–73	A1851, 1970/2708
Negotiations on the voluntary code of cigarette advertising	1970–76	A1851, 1971/3488
Commonwealth and State action on smoking and cigarette advertising	1972–80	A1851, 1972/3201
Commonwealth-State ministers conference on cigarette advertising	1972	A1851, 1972/2542
Smoking and health – background to departmental policy	1972–73	A1851, 1972/5086

Prime Minister's Department (CA 12)

 

Title or description of record	Date range	Series, item number
Parliamentary question regarding effect of cigarette smoking on personal health	1964	A463, 1964/1209
Control of advertising media and cigarette packet labelling	1969–71	A463, 1969/1979