CANBERRA, Australia, June 16 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard Wednesday refused to ban fast food ads during children's TV programs, saying kids' obesity was their parents' problem.
The Labor Party had proposed a ban on junk food advertising during TV programs targeting children, and vowed to implement such a rule if it wins elections this year.
But Howard accused the party of proposing a "nanny state," The Australian reported.
"The overwhelming responsibility for the dietary habits of children belongs to parents," he said in Parliament. "Governments have to be very reluctant in too willingly embracing the nanny state in banning this or that or the other," the paper reported.
Australia already has advertising bans on tobacco.
Researchers estimate that 23 percent of Australian children are overweight, a number that has more than doubled in a decade.
Children and Youth Affairs Minister Larry Anthony said advertisers should take the initiative in promoting healthy dietary choices to children and parents.
