The debate over the offensive slogans daubed on the large fleet of Wicked rental campervans that ply Australia’s highways and byways has ratcheted up another notch.
Two New South Wales towns are looking to ban the offending vehicles from their caravan parks and camping areas. Grey nomads, like many other travellers, have been shocked to see vans painted with highly offensive and often sexist phrases. Wicked campervans are particularly popular with young overseas backpackers.
Byron Bay Shire councillor Duncan Dey has lodged a motion to be discussed at tomorrow’s Byron Bay Council meeting calling for signs to be erected at the entry points to the holiday hotspot warning that Wicked vans are not welcome. He also wants vans with offensive slogans banned from council-owned caravan parks.
And Ballina Council is also due to act against Wicked vans this week, with the Deputy Mayor Robyn Hordern tabling a motion calling for the NSW Government to act against vehicles with offensive slogans.
“I want it to be clear that I see these messages as being coarse, disgusting, and simply quite offensive,” she said. “They’re not appropriate to have parading up and down our highways.”
However, NSW Premier Mike Baird, seems reluctant to get involved.
“I don’t think it’s something that the state government should be getting involved in,” he said.
Earlier this month, Byron Shire councillors heard from a local grandfather who spray-painted over a slogan that was describing a sexual act. And two years ago, the Wicked was forced to apologise after public outrage against a van with the slogan “In every princess, there’s a little slut who wants to try it just once”.
I recall a few years ago we used to laugh at most of them but not now and I don’t blame parks from banning them.
They have gradually become more offensive, so subtle that they have slipped under the radar. If people are offended, take a photo, send it directly to the Advertising Standards Bureau with a message on what you think. If enough complaints are received, I believe it has to be investigated.