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Fresh calls for campervan ban in NSW

<p>The NSW government is facing fresh calls to ban a popular type of campervan, after one of these vehicles caused a stir while driving through Ballina over the weekend.</p> <p>The vehicle in question was owned by Wicked, a rental company that’s gained notoriety for providing vehicles with offensive slogans on the side. <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Daily Telegraph reports</strong></span></em></a> when Lennox Head resident Beth Hansen noticed the vehicle parked next to a popular children’s playground, she started to feel sick.  </p> <p>“I was just sickened, I felt revolted. I’ve got grandchildren, I can imagine anyone with children who was following that van and the questions that might be asked,” Mrs Hansen said.</p> <p>“It’s absolutely not wanted on our streets.</p> <p>“I understood there were moves under way to make that offensive advertising illegal.”</p> <p>Mrs Hansen says this was the first van she’s seen in a while with such an offensive tag.</p> <p>“What I had noticed was more were appearing with just the Wicked campervan sign on the side,” Mrs Hansen said.</p> <p>“I thought that’s good action is being taken and those revolting signs are gone but this is obviously not the case.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdhKkeClnVE/" target="_blank">Appropriate... 📷 @benjmills_ #wickedcampers #vanlife</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/wickedcampers/" target="_blank"> wickedcampers</a> (@wickedcampers) on Jan 3, 2018 at 10:53pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There have been calls to ban these controversial vehicles in the past. Last year the Blue Mountains Council told Wicked Campers they were prohibited from entering popular council-owned caravan parks at Blackheath and Katoomba.</p> <p>Staff at the site were given power to turn away any vehicles they deemed to contain, “misogynistic, racial and degrading slogans and imagery”.</p> <p>Byron Bay Council successfully implemented a ban in 2016 after failing to get State government approval, with then-Premier Mike Baird saying, “I don’t think it’s something that the state government should be getting involved in.”</p> <p>Ballina MP Tamara Smith said she was disappointed and disgusted by the quantity of Wicked vans still bearing these offensive slogans.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFf1zgAElWG/" target="_blank">A post shared by wickedcampers (@wickedcampers)</a> on May 16, 2016 at 10:59pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“My office did receive complaints about Wicked campers in 2016 when another constituent Paul McCarthy campaigned to get Wicked to stop putting awful slogans on vehicles because children were reading them and asking him what the words meant,” Ms Smith said.</p> <p>“And that goes to the nub of why these slogans are so offensive – anyone of any age from can see and read them and the vehicles are right in front of people in the street or passing by houses. There is no choice not to see these messages the way there is with, for example, television.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Should these vehicles be banned?</p>

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Sydney campervan owner discovers obscene note on windscreen

<p>A campervan owner has engaged in a war of words with residents on a Sydney street, after one disgruntled local left an obscene note on the vehicle.</p> <p>Dannielle Miller posted a series of photographs to Twitter to document the exchange, with the caption, “This is peak Mosman”.</p> <p>The note that sparked the arguments reads: “Attention. Could you please move this piece of s*** off our road. It’s an embarrassment to residents.”</p> <p><img width="498" height="275" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7268165/campervan-two_498x275.jpg" alt="Campervan -two"/></p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Dannielle Miller</em></p> <p>Another local was quick to jump to the defence, leaving their own letter:</p> <p>“This vehicle may not be pretty, but what is centaintly ugly are the comments attached to it and the insanely arrogant idea that there is some sort of aesthetic standard vehicles must reach before they may be parked on this street,” the response reads”.</p> <p>“As a resident of this street for the last 20 years I have driven, walked and ridden past this vehicle over the past little while with a small smile on my face, wondering what interesting human tale lies behind its sojourn here.”</p> <p>And not to be undone, the campervan’s owners eventually replied.</p> <p><img width="499" height="274" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7268166/campervan-three_499x274.jpg" alt="Campervan -three"/></p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Dannielle Miller</em></p> <p>“We could have explained that we are parked temporarily while we pack and ready ourselves for a trip around Australia this year,” the wrote.</p> <p>“Ironically we were going to leave on our trip this morning however we have put our trip back a few days so we could attend the scattering of ashes for a close friend. Perhaps it may take another day so we can clean off the mess you have made”.</p> <p>“We understand that our Winnie is a large eyesore and apologise for any embarrassment it has caused you. However, in future, please think of a more polite way to express your “embarrassment” and use a friendlier way to attach your message.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Dannielle Miller</em></p>

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8 Aussie destinations best enjoyed in a campervan

<p>While it’s not for everyone, a campervan holiday might just be the best way to explore Australia. There’s nothing like that sense of freedom you get when you’re on the open road, able to follow any whim that takes your fancy on the way.</p> <p>But where are the best places for budding campervanners to visit? Well, we’ve scoured Australia from top to toe to come up with the eight Aussie destinations that are best enjoy when you’re in a campervan. To see them, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>Have you ever travelled around Australia in a campervan?</p> <p> </p>

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Tasmanian government flags potential campervan ban

<p>Tasmania could ban the "vile, sexist and misogynistic" Wicked campervans from entering the state, says Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding.</p> <p>The vans are emblazoned with controversial slogans, often insulting women and girls and also depict cartoon characters using drugs and alcohol, and can spend up to three months in Tasmania.</p> <p>"I have been investigating possible regulatory or legislative options to stop these vile, sexist and misogynistic vans from operating in Tasmania," Mr Hidding said.</p> <p>On Thursday, Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the government would introduce legislation that would see vehicles with slogans that "fail to comply with determinations by the Advertising Standards Bureau" face deregistration.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26944/shutterstock_354404441_500x334.jpg" alt="wicked campers" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>However, the legislation would only affect Wicked Campers' Queensland-registered vehicles, meaning there was nothing to stop the company's interstate-registered vehicles being driven on the state's roads.</p> <p>Meanwhile, another Wicked campervan was recently classified as objectionable and banned by the NZ Classification Office.</p> <p>The van has a picture of Goofy smoking a bong, with the statement: "Stoned!" The censors said it was another example of the chain using a well-known children's character to present drug use in a subversive way.</p> <p>Do you agree with the potential ban? What’s your take on the situation?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/6-best-animal-experiences-you-can-have-in-australia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>6 best animal experiences you can have in Australia</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/5-of-the-best-national-parks-in-australia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 of the best national parks in Australia</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/5-reasons-to-book-a-winter-trip-in-australia/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 reasons to book a winter trip in Australia</span></em></strong></a></p>

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