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Premier gives van go brush-off

Caitriona Murtagh

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

© The Cairns Post

 

WICKED Campers has hit back at censure by the national advertising watchdog and the state's Premier with a cheeky invitation.

The Advertising Standards Board this week ordered Wicked to alter slogans spray-painted on two vans, ruling they were misogynistic and demeaning to women.

And The Cairns Post last week revealed a slogan exhorting "Save a Whale – Harpoon a Jap" incensed Premier Anna Bligh who branded it "narrow-minded stupidity".

Yesterday, Wicked general manager Dave Kinkead told The Cairns Post the company hoped to "bury the hatchet" with Ms Bligh by offering her the chance to create her own Wicked van.

"We’re going to let Anna make her own van, show us what’s humorous, and meets prevailing community standards, and we’ll put it on the road," he said.

Ms Bligh would only have to supply a slogan, Mr Kinkead said, while Wicked would wield the spraycan.

Yesterday the Premier said: "This is not a joke.

"I will not be writing slogans for Wicked camper vans.

"But I do hope that they can feel inspired to do better by the Advertising Standards Bureau's ruling."

While the ASB investigates complaints from the public about the anti-whaling van, Wicked has agreed to replace or alter the sexist slogans.

In an official response to the order to cease using the phrase "Women are like banks – once you withdraw you lose interest", Wicked wrote: "The slogan will be removed as soon as we can determine what vehicle is it on and be replaced with something dull, boring and suitable for anyone offended by the word ‘bottom’."

Wicked maintained neither slogan was misogynistic or demeaning to women. It said the company’s artwork and messages were in line with community standards.

"In a pluralist society like ours, everyone is free to express their own views – some of which not everyone agrees with."

 


My road or Bligh road?: One of Wicked's controversial camper vans.

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