Media Release

20 September 2017

BSA fast tracks Election Programme complaint – finds Ban 1080 Party election advertisement did not breach standards

The BSA has not upheld two complaints that a Ban 1080 Party election advertisement broadcast on television was inaccurate and misleading and breached broadcasting standards.

The Authority found that the claims made in the election advertisement, about the application and impact of 1080 on New Zealand waterways, flora and fauna, were statements of political advocacy and opinion, reflecting the party’s policy position. The statements were made in the context of encouraging voters to vote for the Ban 1080 Party.

‘The dominant purpose and effect of the advertisement was to communicate Ban 1080’s political position in an attempt to secure votes in the upcoming election. Ban 1080 are known as a political organisation with the predominant focus of banning 1080 in New Zealand,’ the Authority said.

The Authority was satisfied that viewers would understand that the advertisement was advocating for the Ban 1080 Party and its flagship policy with statements that, while persuasive and advocatory, were not assertions of fact. ‘[The assertions] lacked the definitive precision or specific language required to be categorised as statements of fact that can be proved or disproved,’ the Authority found.

In reaching its decision, the Authority emphasised the importance and value of freedom of expression and political speech, particularly in the lead up to a general election, and did not consider the high threshold for finding a breach of standards was met.

The Authority said, ‘Given the importance of political speech and of enabling political discourse in the lead up to a general election, we will generally only interfere to limit the exercise of that speech when we consider that the harm is great.’

The advertisement featured a voiceover discussing the purported use and effects of sodium fluoroacetate (1080 poison) on New Zealand’s flora, fauna and waterways, accompanied by footage of animal carcasses and 1080 baits in water.

ENDS

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