Unleashed

This TV ad for Mad Paws, showing a naked man and a dog with blurred out private parts, sparked concerns regarding the portrayal of nudity and sexuality. 

While the Community Panel acknowledged the depiction of nudity, they found that the man's private parts were sufficiently obscured. They also found that the ad conveyed humour rather than sexual content and therefore did not breach community standards concerning sexuality and nudity.  

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics

Cold power

This ad displayed on Aldi freezers featuring the statement 'Powered by 100% renewable electricity' raised concerns about a potentially misleading environmental claim.

While the Community Panel noted that Aldi generates and purchases renewable energy in an equivalent amount to what is used by stores, they found that the average consumer would interpret the message as the freezers being 100% powered by renewable electricity. 

Breach – AANA Environmental Code 

Bra-vocative

This billboard ad for an underwear company, featuring a woman wearing a maternity bra and breastfeeding a baby, raised concerns about sex, sexuality, and nudity. 

The Community Panel noted that while the ad contained partial nudity, the depiction of a woman breastfeeding was relevant to the promotion of the product. They also found that the ad did not contain sex or sexuality. 

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics 

Turn-off

This YouTube ad for an online appliance retailer includes a voice-over saying “say goodbye to S#!* appliances”, which raised concerns about offensive language. 

The Community Panel found that the swear word was sufficiently censored for the relevant audience and medium. They also noted the complainant's concern that the ad was played where it could be seen by children, however did not find that the ad was targeting children and therefore the AANA Children’s Code did not apply. 

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics & AANA Children’s Code

Say what?!

Our latest article dives into Australian’s perceptions of language in advertising. Discover which words are acceptable and which cross the line. 

New Environmental Claims Code

The AANA has announced the launch of the new Environmental Claims Code, which sets a new standard for advertisers to ensure that environmental messaging is truthful, clear, and verifiable. Advertisers will need to ensure that any claims about future actions or sustainability targets are realistic, achievable, and based on solid evidence.