The Nannies: 2015 nanny state awards

The Centre for Independent Studies announces its second year of nanny state awards, The Nannies. Highlighting the year’s worst examples of imposing regulations or promoting campaigns designed to prevent people exercising the right to think for themselves.

“The Nannies highlight attempts by government to stick its nose into private choices,” CIS research fellow Simon Cowan said in announcing the awards.

Winner: The Greens, for initiating a Senate inquiry into the role children’s toys and entertainment play in creating gender stereotypes and contributing towards domestic violence.

“Everyone is concerned about domestic and family violence, but this senate inquiry seems to be more of an attempt to tell parents how to raise their kids,” Mr Cowan said. “Having a Senate inquiry into toys is absurd.”

2nd Place: NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing for deeming the bar name ‘Spooning Goats’ offensive.

“As far as I am aware it’s not a crime to actually spoon a goat so why is the name more distasteful than the smell?” Mr Cowan asked.

3rd Place (equal): Victoria’s Port Phillip Council for wanting to ban junk food in its park; and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for urging that codeine become a prescription-only medicine.

“The council wanting to ban junk food in its park suggests their attitude is that you are only allowed to have fun in pre-approved ways,” Mr Cowan said. “And you also clearly can’t be trusted to take medicine like simple pain-killers responsibly. Given the cost rises in our health system, is it really a good idea to force people to go to the doctor and get a prescription for codeine?”