Wicked Campers rents vans to the public that are covered in various graffiti-style messages and images that whilst trying to be humorous and witty, often degenerate into  slogans that reflect poorly on the company and those who choose to be its customers. Some of the slogans include ‘ Snog an Aboriginal’, ‘Kill the F _ _kers’ (referring to kangaroos) ‘ Kill the Poor’ and "I wouldn't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die". These sloganspromote division, negative imagery, crass language and offensiveness not only to adults, but to vulnerable children who are part of the many thousands of people who are forced to view and be exposed to these low level messages on a daily basis.

This petition has been started for three reasons. Firstly, to remove these offensive slogans. Secondly, to highlight to the public the serious safety issues that have been exposed by ‘A Current Affair’ tv program and thirdly, in support of the Advertising Standards Bureau Queensland who have made various rulings to have offensive slogans removed.

In a news.com.au article of 15/4/13, it was referred to how the Advertising Standards Bureau Queensland  dealt with three complaints. The ASB comments in relation to the three offensive slogans were that the first was ‘blatantly homophobic, heterosexist, and sexist", that the second was "disgusting” and sexist in that it was "objectifying women as sexual objects"  and  ‘exploitative and degrading’ and the third was "offensive in the extreme" and "totally reprehensive material and should be outlawed". They also said they had received more than 40 advertising complaints since 2008, and that Wicked campers was Australia's biggest serial offender when it came to ignoring the watchdog's rulings.

The slogans even attack more vulnerable and defenseless members of our society. For example, a van was sighted recently that said ‘Kill the Poor’ on the side with ‘End World Poverty, Get the Hungry to eat the Homeless’ on the back (pictured).

Anyone who associates with this company, from employees to customers, bear a responsibility for these inane and negative images that appeal to the lowest common denominator humour wise.

Of serious concern is that there have been many complaints also about the safety of Wicked Vans, as exposed in ‘A Current Affair’ t v program. For example, 3 Wicked vans were rented anonymously by A Current Affair and given a basic roadworthy test by a resting authority, the Queensland RACQ. Defects found were as follows:  ‘rear brake covered in oil, leaking axel seal, bald tyre, steering wheel cover falling apart’. ‘All 3 cars had bald tyres, one had a hole in the muffler, there was rust, leaking shock absorbers and faulty seat belt’. All 3 cars were rated as unroadworthy. (see embedded video)

We have sent multiple emails John Webb, owner of Wicked Campers as well as to the main website but there has been no response to date, thus resulting in this online petition as the beginning of a campaign for positive change.

We note previous and current change.org petitions to do with ‘Promoting running over kangaroos’ and ‘Stop graffiti on vans that’s degrading of women and offensive’.