Wicked Campers could be banned from branding vans with phrases like ‘life sucks but your girlfriend doesn’t’ after minister declares war on ‘sexist’ slogans
- Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer renews calls to ban offensive Wicked slogans
- She said the offensive and sexist slogans were unacceptable in modern world
- Calls to introduce new legislation has been backed by Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer has written to state and territory ministers seeking their support in forcing Wicked Campers to comply with community standards.
Ms O’Dwyer has long been a critic of the Wicked Campers and their offensive slogans and is hoping widespread support from all states and territories can help bring the company into line.
So far the company has been able to avoid the Ad Standards because it owns all of the vans in use and as such can avoid the compliance rules, the Brisbane Times reported.
Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer (pictured) has written to state and territory ministers seeking their support in forcing Wicked campers to comply with community standards
So far the company has been able to avoid the Ad Standards because it owns all of the vans in use and as such can avoid the compliance rules
Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT have introduced new legislation that directly tackles the loophole being exploited by Wicked Campers.
Some of the offensive slogans drawing the ire of government include ‘oral sex is a great last minute gift’, ‘life is like a bowl of soup, you only get blown if you’re hot’ and ‘virginity is curable’.
Ms O’Dwyer said the slogans did not reflect the progressive nature of modern Australia and in her view they were unacceptable.
‘We have no tolerance for sexist, misogynistic and offensive slogans on campervans, or those displayed anywhere else for that matter, no matter how hard some try to justify their existence,’ she told The Brisbane Times.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, is currently seeking reforms and backed Ms O’Dwyer’s calls.
‘These vehicles are offensive and belong in a junkyard, not on Australian roads,’ he told the Brisbane Times.
‘By choosing to avoid these vehicles, you’re also choosing to ensure parents or grandparents won’t have to explain the vile meaning of these disgusting signs or images to their children or grandchildren while driving on our roads.’
Some of the offensive slogans drawing the ire of government include ‘oral sex is a great last minute gift’, ‘life is like a bowl of soup, you only get blown if you’re hot’ and ‘virginity is curable’
‘These vehicles are offensive and belong in a junkyard, not on Australian roads,’ Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said
A petition to stop Wicked Campers was also launched by campaign movement group Collective Shout, which has already gained more than 8,000 signatures.
Collective Shout Director Coralie Alison said the fact Wicked Campers were still operating with offensive slogans was a failure of Ad Standards.
The current system is a failure. Wicked Campers repeatedly and defiantly breach the code of ethics with no consequences,’ Ms Alison said.
‘There are no penalties for non-compliance, which means there is nothing to stop companies like Wicked Campers promoting misogyny and treating the abuse of women as a punchline.’
Wicked Campers also has the distinction of being the first company to be hit with 100 different case investigations by the Advertising Standards Board
Wicked Campers also has the distinction of being the first company to be hit with 100 different case investigations by the Advertising Standards Board.
The company could not be reached for comment but in 2015 when Wicked Campers was under fire, its founder John Webb released an official statement.
Wicked Campers could not be reached for comment but in 2015 when Wicked Campers was under fire its founder John Webb (pictured) released an official statement mocking the calls to change
The statement was full of negative undertones and indicted Mr Webb did not take the calls for regulation seriously.
‘To meet the commitments made in our prior Press Release, we employed a team of highly-intelligent, socially-conscious super monkeys to closely monitor the subject matter featured on our vehicles and scream loudly when offended,’ he wrote.
‘This initiative had been code-named ‘Moral Monkey Squad’ under a carefully constructed mission statement.’
‘Moral Monkey Squad are dedicated to satisfying the whims and wishes of the humour-inept, self-righteous moral majority while wearing little monkey tuxedos and funny hats.’
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