Mosman Council votes to explore banning fossil fuel and gambling ads from council property

At a council meeting held earlier this month, Mosman Council put into motion steps that could change the approved advertisers allowed on council property.

Marlow Hurst
March 21, 2025

Mosman Council will explore the financial impact of banning fossil fuel and gambling ads on council property, with a look towards making a final determination, following a council meeting earlier this month.

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Council green lights first steps towards advertising ban

During a March 4 council meeting, Mosman Council voted to “seek to propose a ban on fossil fuel and gambling advertising on Council-owned assets.”

Carried four votes to two, Mosman Councillors declared they would achieve this by reviewing their current sponsorship policy and special events management policy, as well as reviewing future land use agreements and obtaining tender pricing for advertising with and without a fossil fuel and gambling ban. Doing these things would allow the Council to model the financial effects of the change.

An amendment intending to delay these actions until two advertising contracts (a digital billboard at Bridgepoint Shopping Centre and the Mosman Council bus shelter) were put out to tender was defeated, with Councillors Simon Menzies and Roy Bendall voting in favour (having previously voted against the original motion) and the remainder of Council voting against.

While this movement from council to rid itself of fossil fuel and gambling advertising isn’t a complete decision yet, it reflects an intention from Mosman Council to divest its associated advertising into other industries.

The decision follows in the footsteps of a number of other local councils across NSW and Australia.

A Mosman Council spokesperson told the North Shore Lorikeet the Council will be waiting for tender pricing before “making a final determination” and that Mosman Council will be “writing to state and federal representatives, seeking their support in addressing fossil fuel and gambling advertising on public assets and requesting further guidance, collaboration and funding assistance.”

Image credit: Mosman Council