Our History
1928

Founded

  • AANA (Australian Association of National Advertisers) is formed with the objective to protect the common interests of advertisers.
1939

Code of Standards

  •  Code of Standards for advertising Medicines is established and adopted by manufacturers.
1940

World War 2

  • War effort mobilises advertising industry to protect Government campaigns
1948

Advertising Material Sales Tax

  •  Advertising Material Sales Tax reduced from 25% to 10% after lobbying by AANA.
1956-1958

Circulation Audit Board

  • AANA works in the interest of advertisers in the development of TV, the cost of using the medium, establishing the Circulation Audit Board.
1962

Brand name advertising

  • AANA successfully opposes government legislation designed to eliminate brand name advertising.
1964

Advertising Standards

  • AANA compiles and adopts the Australian Code of Advertising Standards.
1974

Trade Practices Act

  • AANA holds conference of “marketing problems in the mid 70’s” and explains the Trade Practices Act to members.
1977

Trade Practices Act

  • Trade Practices Act amended thanks to the recommendations of AANA.
1978

Advertising on children

  • AANA makes a submission to a senate committee on the impact of advertising on children.
1996

Media Council Australia

  • AANA takes over from the Media Council Australia, establishing itself as the replacement self-regulatory advertising code and complaints structure for the advertising industry.
1998

Advertiser Code of Ethics

  • AANA develops an industry benchmark Advertiser Code of Ethics and a new complaints handling bureau.
2003

Celebrating 75 years

  • AANA updates and reviews the Code of Ethics, celebrating 75 years of existence.
2006

Food and Beverage Code

  • AANA establishes the Food and Beverage Code.
2007

Communications to Children Code

  • AANA launches the Advertising & Marketing Communications to Children Code.
2009

Alcohol Consumption

  •  AANA advocates a healthy lifestyle, engaging with Health Minister Roxon to encourage moderation in alcohol consumption.
2014

Inagural RESET

  • The first AANA RESET conference is held in Sydney.
2016

Sexualisation of Children

  • AANA attends the NSW Parliament Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children and Young People, leading to an amendment of the Code of Ethics.
2017

Relevant Audience

  • A new provision is added to the Code of Ethics ensuring advertising is “clearly distinguishable to the relevant audience.”
2018

Celebrating 90 Years

  • AANA celebrates 90 years and issues new guidance for advertisers on portrayals of body image.
2022

New CEO appointed

  • Josh Faulks is appointed to CEO and ushers in a new era for the AANA with a new strategy focused on expansion, delivering value to members and shaping the future of a trusted and sustainable marketing industry.
2024

10 Years of RESET

  • AANA celebrates 10 years of RESET, changing locations to the Overseas Passenger Terminal and attracting over 565 marketers to the event.