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Wicked vans could face national crackdown

Senior cabinet ministers are going after Wicked Campervans, urging state and territory counterparts to back national regulations to stamp out offensive slogans.

Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer.
Kelly O'Dwyer wants state and territory leaders to act on offensive slogans on Wicked vans. (AAP)

Vile sexist slogans on Wicked Campervans could face the wrath of new national rules, as the federal government looks for ways to put the brakes on offensive vehicles.

Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer has written to state and territory leaders and their transport ministers urging them to support a national approach forcing the company to comply with community standards.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack has also vowed to crack down on the offensive vehicles, working with state counterparts to reform regulations.

"These vehicles are offensive and belong in a junkyard not on Australian roads," the Nationals leader said on Friday.

"By choosing to avoid these vehicles, you're also choosing to ensure parents or grandparents won't have to explain the vile meaning of these disgusting signs or images to their children or grandchildren while driving on our roads."

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Ms O'Dwyer said use of the vehicles contradicted Australian values and was unacceptable.

"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."

A national scheme would close loopholes which have allowed Wicked vans to display their controversial signage.

Queensland and Tasmania have given motor vehicle registries the power to deregister any vehicle that doesn't comply with Ad Standards rulings.

But Wicked has been able to dodge fines and penalties by changing vehicle registration to another jurisdiction once a complaint has been made.

Ms O'Dwyer and Mr McCormack urged international visitors not to rent vehicles Wicked's vehicles carrying offensive signage.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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