Libertarians say Wicked pushed boundaries

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says hire van company Wicked Campers has pushed the boundaries of free speech.

Wicked campervans

Wicked campervans. Source: Facebook

Hire van company Wicked Campers may want to think twice before calling on the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties to help fight state government efforts to force it to tone down its slogans.

QCCL executive member Andrew Sinclair says many people believe the slogans on camper vans are "tasteless" and shouldn't be viewed by children.

There's a fine line between being vulgar and offensive and the right to freedom of speech, and Wicked Campers had certainly pushed the boundaries, Mr Sinclair said on Monday.

"The anti-discrimination act says we can't vilify people or incite hatred against them. Some of the Wicked Camper signs may cross that line," he told AAP.
"Some of them must come pretty close to vilifying all, particularly, all women. If they don't cross the line and they're just offensive, we accept free speech can be regulated."

The Queensland government announced plans last week to get sexist, misogynistic and other inappropriate messages off the road.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said under the new arrangements, commercial vehicle registration holders who fail to comply with determinations by the Advertising Standards Bureau can be deregistered.

Wicked Campers have not publicly responded to the Queensland government's announcement.

Mr Sinclair said the decision to use advertising regulations to address concerns about Wicked Campers was an appropriate measure.

"It seems a legitimate curtailment to say that there is only certain things or you can't say things or advertise on a commercial vehicle," he said.

He believed that a majority of people would find something on Wicked Campers' vehicles that was very distasteful and they wouldn't want to see them on the street or in front of children.

Wicked Campers has been contacted for comment.


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Source: AAP


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