 Hobart's Republic Bar hits out at Emily's Voice pro-life ad erected on building's roof    A Hobart pub has put up its own notice assuring patrons it is "pro-choice" and does "not control women's bodies" after a pro-life ad appeared on a billboard on its roof
     The advertisement for not-for-profit organisation Emily's Voice features the slogan "A heart beats at four weeks" and was first spotted by staff on top of the Republic Bar and Cafe earlier this week
 On its website, Emily's Voice says it "exists to help Australians fall in love with the unborn and encourage and support women facing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy"
  In response, pub staff put their own message up inside the bar and on social media
 "We do not control the billboard above our building … this venue is pro-choice," the notice read
   External Link:  Republic Bar and Cafe: We do not control the billboard above our building
 We do not control women's bodies. This venue is pro-choice      Republic licensee and general manager Jacki MacPherson said she was surprised the ad had gone up, and that she was usually notified prior to political or social advertising being booked on the billboard
 "The owners of the billboard do pass anything political by me first before it goes up … it's not a standard arrangement," she said
 "Because of how political Republic Bar is we do have an extra clause in our contract for this … so it seems to have slipped through the cracks
" Ms MacPherson said she did not want the ad to upset customers and that it did not align with the views of the business
 "They [the billboard owner] know how important it is for the Republic to show our own political views, and not promote those that we don't agree with," she said
 "Women's rights man! [We've] got to band together to do what we can to protect our bodies and to show people that our bodies are ours and nobody else's
"Businesses vs billboards It is not the first time billboards in Tasmania have caused controversy
 In the lead-up to the 2017 same-sex marriage vote, the Winston pub in Hobart posted a clarification to its Facebook page after an "It's OK to say no" sign appeared above the business
  A pizza shop in Launceston also made a "light-hearted" change to an identical billboard, adding the words "to pineapple on pizza"
      Ms Macpherson said there should be more rights for business owners to be able to question advertising attached to their premises if it did not reflect their values
  "Advertising billboards — they just sell space. It's just a money-making tool, but at the end of the day it's a lot more powerful than that," she said
 Advertiser 'surprised and disappointed'  Emily's Voice CEO Paul O'Rourke said in a statement that the not-for-profit was disappointed in the Republic Bar's stance against the ad
  "We are surprised and disappointed that the venue would feel the need to criticise a very tasteful, sensitive sign that confirms the scientific fact that an unborn baby has a heartbeat at four weeks from conception," he said
  Mr O'Rourke added that the organisation agreed with the Republic Bar's poster and also did not want to "control women's bodies", stating that Emily's Voice believed in "informed choice"
 The billboard ad, situated in North Hobart, is one of seven throughout the state and dozens across Australia
  Mr O'Rourke said the sites of the ads were chosen "based on availability". The ABC has contacted the billboard owner for comment
  
