SYDNEY: Ad Standards has dismissed an anonymous complaint that a Sportsbet TV advertisement was depicting violent golfers, perpetuating aggressive connotations of gambling.
The commercial features golfers playing ‘livid golf’, demonstrating scenes of players throwing clubs, screaming, punching mannequins and smashing plates.
The complainant said they thought all gambling advertisements should be banned.
“Do we really need them advertising how to gamble? Gambling can do as much damage to health as smoking. However I find this particular ad offensive because of the aggression being displayed. Also the name LIVID golf. Are they having a dig at LIV Golf? I am tired of that too,” they said.
The complaint sparked awareness to Ad Standards of potential issues concerning the AANA Code of Ethics.
In particular, Section 2.3 – “requires that advertising ‘shall not present or portray violence unless it is justifiable in the context of the product or service advertised.”
The advertiser, Sportsbet, however, rejected any suggestion that the commercial breached section 2.3 of the Code.
“The Advertisement depicts a group of golfers participating in a golf format named ‘LIVID Golf’, which is clearly a fictionalised ‘golf-like’ event that is intended as a humourous and lighthearted parody on the ‘LIV Golf’ league and frustration experienced by players of golf generally," a Sportsbet spokesperson said.
“The Advertisement highlights a set of ridiculous rules that juxtapose the stereotypical traditional and conservative behaviours that are regularly associated with etiquette in golf.
“The Advertisement places an emphasis on emotions expressed by golfers of all abilities at times and portrays the theme that golf is a challenging and often frustrating sport. The Advertisement does not depict violence Section 2.3 of the Code prohibits advertising that ‘presents or portrays violence unless it is justifiable in the context of the product or service advertised’.
The statement justified the advertisement’s depictions of the violent breaking and throwing of golf clubs as “behaviour that, while considered poor etiquette, is occasionally seen on a golf course (including by professional golfers) as a response to a frustrated outcome.”
The panel concluded that although violence may be relevant to the story being told, it must be justifiable in the context of what is being advertised.
The panel deemed the advertisement a parody of the frustration golfers experience and an “exaggerated exaggerated depiction of a fictional golf course with options for golfers to manage that frustration by taking it out on inanimate objects”.
The Sportsbet advertisement was found not to have breached Section 2.3 of the Code and was in no sense considered a threat or danger.
The complaint was dismissed.
SYDNEY: A leading north shore RSL club has resurrected plans to rebuild the venue into a multistorey building after previous development attempts faced opposition from local residents.
Roseville RSL has lodged a $31 million proposal to rebuild its single-storey venue into a new seven-level development featuring a new club and 37 apartments.
The new proposal represents a five-fold increase in the current size of the venue – expanding it from 820sq m to 4124sq m plans.
The redeveloped club would have 321sq m of communal open space, four levels of basement carparking with 90 carparking spaces and new signage.
Plans show the new RSL venue could accommodate up to 220 patrons at any one time.
The club’s proposal states the development would support local jobs and provide new units to address housing demand in the area.
“The redevelopment is a unique opportunity to improve and regenerate (the club) and is consistent with the desired future character of the Roseville town centre.”
“The proposed development will promote the social and economic welfare of the local community through the provision of high-quality residential space and non-residential space.”
The proposal comes almost two years after a previous redevelopment plan of the club was met with opposition from Ku-ring-gai Council and local residents.
Many of the concerns centred on plans by the club to acquire a six-metre-wide strip of council-owned land next to the venue to incorporate into the development.
As part of the earlier proposal, the club negotiated with the council to acquire the land, however an agreement was not entered into and the development did not proceed.
The new plans stated the development would still involve the acquisition of the land and the club has already made an offer to acquire the land.
A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman said: “Negotiations are continuing with the Roseville RSL Club on their proposed redevelopment plans”.
“These will remain commercial in confidence until a report is prepared for the council to consider later this year,” she said in a statement.
The proposal has been lodged to Ku-ring-gai Council and is currently under assessment.
The club currently has a membership base of about 1100 people.
