South Australia Draws the Line on Junk Food Ads 

Starting 1 July 2025, catching a bus or train in South Australia might look a little different, cleaner, quieter, and noticeably free of fast food billboards. 

That’s because South Australia will become the first state in the country to ban junk food advertising across public transport, including buses, trains, trams, and transit shelters. The move, aimed at addressing rising obesity rates and reshaping public health messaging, has already sparked national debate. 

What the policy covers 

The ban will target marketing for: 

• Sugary soft drinks 

• Highly processed takeaway meals 

• Discretionary foods high in salt, sugar and fat 

What does this mean for the rest of Australia? 

The move has sparked national conversation, and rightly so. 

Obesity continues to be one of the leading contributors to chronic disease in Australia, with rates rising steadily among both adults and children. At the same time, our cities are saturated with advertising that promotes ultra-processed foods, often far more than ads for fresh, nutritious options. 

At Healthy Cities Australia, we support this move. It’s a clear, evidence-based decision that puts public health, especially children’s health, first. 

We know that food marketing is powerful. Studies have consistently shown that advertising influences what children want, what parents buy, and what ends up in lunchboxes, fridges and dinner plates. Banning junk food ads in public spaces, especially where kids commute and gather, is a proven way to reduce that influence. 

This isn’t about policing personal choice. It’s about removing constant, unhealthy cues from the everyday environment, so families can make informed choices without being nudged toward ultra-processed foods at every turn. 

We’re not here to debate headlines. We’re here to advocate for healthier cities, and this policy is a strong step in that direction. It aligns with what the evidence shows, what health experts recommend, and what prevention looks like at scale. 

As South Australia takes this bold step, the rest of the country will be watching closely, not just to see how the policy plays out, but to reflect on what kind of food environments we want to foster.