Outrage at Greens ‘unf*** the future’ campaign material ahead of likely federal election 2025

The Greens have come under fire over producing and distributing merchandise containing abusive and “grubby” language.

The Greens have come under fire from both SA Labor and Liberal party members after distributing a pamphlet with “grubby” language. Picture: Supplied

The Greens have come under fire after producing and distributing merchandise containing abusive and “grubby” language.

The minor party’s head office chiefs based in Canberra authorised official material containing phrases “unf*** the future” on paraphernalia.

Amid outrage from Liberal politicians over “grubby” content and criticism from Premier Peter Malinauskas, South Australian Greens MPs distanced themselves.

Greens Upper House politician Robert Simms apologised over the “inappropriate” campaign material, which he said would be scrapped and not further distributed.

He denied it was placed in letterboxes in the state’s most marginal federal seat.

The row erupted after a flyer was issued at an Eastern suburbs market over the weekend.

Greens party UNF#*K Our Future T-shirt. Picture: Supplied

The flyer, which director of campaigns, Jess McColl authorised, asked if voters were ready to “take on the billionaires and fight for the future”.

“Face it, unless we do something different, the future is a bit f***ed,” stated the document that was printed on recycled paper and contains a picture of federal Greens leader Adam Bandt.

“Inequality has skyrocketed. The climate crisis is getting worse,”

“The old blokes in suits are just filling their pockets with big donations from billionaires and big corporations.

“We can unf*** it.”

The flyer, which was distributed to voters at the Fullarton market, which is located in the Sturt federal electorate, urges a vote for the minor party to give it the balance of power.

The party, which holds the Senate’s balance of power, also advertises on its website T-shirts with “unf*** our future” emblazoned on it.

For almost $30, including “tax”, voters can buy the regular fit, crew neck T-shirt, in “asphalt marle” colour, in a variety of sizes including for children.

Mr Malinauskas, who has used colourful language publicly, said he wasn’t easily offended.

But he added: “Trying to win votes by scaring people or making them pessimistic about the future, particularly young people, I don’t think is particularly healthy.

“There’s a lot to be optimistic about. You can acknowledge the challenges, you can confront them with serious policy, rather than using pessimistic slogans.”

Greens MP Robert Simms with the Dunstan by-election candidate Katie McCusker in Norwood. She will also contest the Sturt electorate. NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Liberal MP for Sturt, James Stevens, called on the Greens to “condemn this kind of gutter politics and commit that something of this nature won’t happen in the future”.

“It’s a new low in politics for a party like the Greens to be distributing offensive material like this,” said Mr Stevens, who is facing a Greens challenge at next year’s likely federal election.

Mr Stevens, who holds Sturt with a 0.5 per cent two party-preferred margin, said of the T-shirt: “No child should be exposed to this kind of foul and grubby language.

“Selling kids T-shirts bearing this slogan is a disgraceful attempt by the Greens to exploit children for financial and political gain.”

Mr Simms, who said he was “aware” of the flyer, apologised about it and said it had been “pulled from the office” but insisted it hadn’t been distributed “widely” in SA.

“Clearly the material is inappropriate,” he said.

“I’m responsible for material that is authorised in SA but it’s not how we do politics in SA.

“This was authorised by our national office.

“I’m very sorry to constituents who were offended by (it).

“It shouldn’t have been distributed in SA. It will now be sent to the recycling bin.”

Ms McColl, who is deputy chief of staff to Mr Bandt, did not return calls.

The party’s federal headquarters also did not respond to inquiries.