Yahoo Finance Minister pushes to ban 'sexist and misogynistic' rental vans
The “sexist, misogynistic and offensive” language used on controversial Wicked Campervans could be on its way out, as the minister for women pushes to rid Australian roads of the vehicles.
Minister for women Kelly O’Dwyer said the vans defy community standards, and has written to state and territory leaders to coordinate a campaign against the “disgusting” slogans.
Slogans painted on the hire vans have included “Drink till she’s pretty” and “I can already imagine the gaffa tape on your mouth”, the second of which was targeted at Byron Bay journalist Lucy Clark after she wrote an article critical of the company.
Many of the slogans are sexually charged and misogynistic, leading different state governments and transport authorities to impose restrictions and penalties on the company.
However the company has avoided the brunt of the blows by simply changing offending vehicles’ registrations to that of another jurisdiction once a complaint has been made.
O’Dwyer hopes a national plan and law would close the loophole.
“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 said.
“That’s why I’ve written to the states and territories to urge them to support a national approach to rid Australia of these offensive vehicles.”
She’s also calling on international visitors to steer clear of the vehicles.
Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said hirers who avoid Wicked Campervans also choose to “ensure parents or grandparents won’t have to explain the vile meaning of these disgusting signs or images to their children or grandchildren”.
“These vehicles are offensive and belong in a junkyard not on Australian roads.”
Commercial backlash
Lonely Planet removed its listings for Wicked Campers from its Australian guidebooks in 2015, following a petition by Change.org.
Wollombi Music Festival in the NSW Hunter region also banned the vehicles earlier this year.
“(The slogans) aren’t funny or libertine, it’s just disrespectful,” organisers wrote on Facebook.
“We look forward to being one of many festivals doing the same thing.”
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