Advertisement

Offensive slogans on vehicles, including Wicked Campers, set to be banned in South Australia

Offensive slogans, such as those featured on some Wicked campervans, are set to be banned.

Offensive slogans, such as those featured on some Wicked campervans, are set to be banned. Photo: Supplied/Wicked Campers

Laws targeting “crude” and “offensive” slogans on vehicles like Wicked Campers look set to pass South Australia’s Parliament.

The law would give the Registrar of Motor Vehicles the power to cancel a vehicle’s registration if the owner refuses to remove offensive material following a request from the advertising industry self-regulation body Ad Standards.

The move follows ongoing complaints about “offensive” and “sexist” slogans on vehicles, especially on the sides of Wicked campervans.

A government bill passed the Lower House yesterday afternoon with the support of the Labor Opposition, which first tabled its own legislation for such a ban in November 2018.

The legislation is expected to pass the Upper House later this month.

“There is no place for this type of garbage in our community,” Transport Minister Corey Wingard said in November, when the legislation was tabled.

“That’s why we’ve taken action to ensure demeaning and disgusting slogans will no longer appear on vehicles driving around South Australia.”

Slogans on Wicked Campers have attracted controversy and complaints. Photo: ABC News/Casey Briggs

SA Labor’s spokesperson for the Status of Women, Katrine Hildyard, said the ban should have been in place years ago.

“[The Wicked Camper slogans] are slogans that speak about women in an extraordinarily demeaning way, that speak about them as objects, and that speak about possible violence,” she said.

“As community leaders, as parliamentarians, it is absolutely incumbent on us to speak up and do whatever is in our sphere of influence to end disrespect and violence against women.”

Queensland was the first state to outlaw sexist, obscene and other offensive slogans on vehicles in 2017, with Tasmania following suit.

Wicked Campers has been contacted for comment.

-ABC

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.