'Misogynist' Wicked Campers earn the ire of Brisbane rally

Wicked Campers may raise many a wry smile as they traverse the nation's road network, but a small and vocal rally in Brisbane on Saturday did not see the humour in some of the company's more sexist slogans.

The Wicked vans have become a cult favourite among backpackers in particular, with the graffiti-style spray-painted art and slogans proving a hit with many young travellers.

About 50 people joined the protest against Wicked Campers' slogans at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane's CBD.Credit: Michelle Smith

But, according to the 50-strong Wicked Picket group that gathered at Reddacliff Place on Saturday, some of those slogans went too far and were outright misogynist.

One of those slogans, "Inside every princess, there's a little slut who wants to try it just once", sparked a petition to the Senate that resulted in an official condemnation from the upper house last year.

Adela Brent, from Birkdale, joins the protest against Wicked Campers' slogans.Credit: Michelle Smith

Wicked Picket organiser Liz Upham said nothing had changed since that Senate motion, despite an undertaking by Wicked Campers chief executive John Webb to remove the slogans within six months.

Comment has been sought from Mr Webb.

Ms Upham said Wicked slogans that had recently been seen on the roads, such as "Fat chicks are harder to kidnap", showed that had not happened.

"Some of the slogans on Wicked Campers are fine and what they want to promote, I would have thought, are fun, holidays, young people and you can do that fun stuff without talking about kidnapping women, about dildos and really offensive slogans that shouldn't be repeated," she said.

Queensland Working Women's Service industrial officer Rita Fitton, from New Farm, joins the protest against Wicked Campers' slogans.Credit: Michelle Smith

"We're not humourless … We want young people to have a good time as they are backpacking around Australia, but in the context of 30 women dying at the hands of their male partners this year, we don't think that these sexist slogans are a good thing.

"They're saying it's OK to kidnap a woman, to put gaffer tape on a woman, they're pretty much saying it's OK to rape a woman."

Queensland Labor Senator Claire Moore told the rally there was no place for Wicked's style of humour.

"I am a really funny woman, I have a fantastic sense of humour and I think there are people in this group that know that," she said.

"Because one of the things we'll always find in this debate is if you question, they'll abuse, they'll ridicule and they'll accuse you of not having a sense of humour.

"That can just get stuffed straight away."

Senator Moore called for a boycott of Wicked Campers.

"There are a wide range of vans and cars that people can use," she said.

"They should not be rewarded for using this kind of advertising.

"The only reason they do it is that they think they have an audience.

"They think it will be attractive to people and that that will make people feel somehow cool, or young, or part of a wider society. Well, they don't."