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Sexpo bus ad receives thousands of complaints

The Sexpo advertisement to be rolled out across Brisbane

The Sexpo advertisement to be rolled out across Brisbane Photo: Sexpo

A Sexpo advertisement featuring a woman and a robot leaning in to kiss has received thousands of complaints and triggered a petition to ban advertising for the event on public buses.

The four-day expo, which has been criticised for its advertisements year-on-year, features shop stalls, performances and education related to sex for this year’s theme “Feel the Future”.

Angela Burrows, from controversial lobby group Collective Shout, launched a petition to ban Sexpo advertisements from Brisbane buses.

She told The New Daily her primary concern was the inclusion of a porn site’s web address on campaign material, which directed visitors to explicit material.

The campaign has not yet rolled out in Brisbane, where the advertisement is not expected to feature the offending web address.

“My kids use public transport and they are all under 12. Any child with a device can go onto this site,” Ms Burrows said.

She said a friend alerted her to the Perth advertisements and was “sickened” by it. Collective Shout has campaigned against the Sexpo advertisements since at least 2014.

The bus advertisement used during the Perth campaign. The web address FreeLiveCams.com has been blurred from the advertisement. Photo: Supplied

The bus advertisement used during the Perth campaign. The web address FreeLiveCams.com has been blurred from the advertisement. Photo: Supplied

The lobby group has previously courted controversy after campaigning to have US rapper Tyler, the Creator’s Australian visa cancelled on character grounds.

Collective Shout has also been criticised as anti-sex worker for its hard stance against pornography. Coles and Woolworths bowed to the group’s call to stop stocking Zoo Weekly in 2015. Bauer Media axed the magazine shortly afterwards.

Of the Sexpo advertisement, Ms Burrows said she emailed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for Women Shannon Fentimen but received no response.

“I am hoping we can move government into action now so the advertising will be stopped before it goes live.”

A mother of four, who said she had not seen the Sexpo advertisement, told The New Daily she signed the petition because she wanted to protect the innocence of her children for as long as possible.

“This kind of advertising – apart from being filth – is unnecessary,” she said.

Sexpo event director Bentleigh Gibson denied the advertisements were overtly sexual.

“Our advertisements and collateral for Sexpo Brisbane are not overtly sexual in any way and do not contain any graphic content,” Mr Gibson said.

“In 21 years of operation, Sexpo has not had a single complaint upheld against it, as determined by the Advertising Standards Bureau.”

Mr Gibson confirmed the campaign would be rolled out across Brisbane buses, but could not say on which routes because this was “at the discretion of network owners”.

He said Sexpo has never marketed towards children or sought out advertisements on school buses.

A 10-year-old child’s complaint about the advertisement on Perth buses was dismissed earlier this year.

In response, the advertising watchdog said the image was not inappropriate for a broad audience.

Sexpo has regularly received complaints for its advertisements.

Collective Shout and NSW conservative Fred Nile, of the Christian Democrats, both complained in 2014 when a Sexpo ad was spotted on a bus at an Alexandria school.

That advertisement said Sexpo was “the most fun you can have with your clothes on”.

A Sexpo billboard featuring a woman on her knees was the fourth most complained about advertisement in 2010.

Sexpo advertisements across buses in 2015 also received complaints

Sexpo advertisements on buses in 2015 also received complaints. Photo: Facebook

More than 2500 people had signed the petition to ban the advertisement from Brisbane buses by Monday afternoon.

The New Daily has contacted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

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