‘Disgusting racist crap’: AFR, anti-voice supporters slammed for controversial cartoon

A voice to parliament newspaper advertisement from the ‘No’ campaign has enraged a spate of politicians, forcing a renowned media giant to apologise.

A string of MPs have slammed a major supporter the voice to parliament’s ‘No’ campaign for using an “insulting trope” in a controversial newspaper advertisement featuring an Indigenous pro-voice supporter.

A full-page ad on page nine in Thursday’s Australian Financial Review, shows a cartoon of Kaurareg and Kalkalgal, Erubamle man Thomas Mayo holding his hands forward as Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney holds a bundle of cash.

Teal MP and member for Curtin, Kate Chaney – who is a strong advocate for the Voice, as well as Mr Chaney’s daughter – is also drawn sitting on her father’s lap, with a cheek-to-cheek grin.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, it’s just shareholders‘ money,” a caption accompanying the cartoon reads.

An ad published in the AFR has been slammed by a number of MPs including former NSW treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: AFR / NCA Newswire

Thomas Mayo is a pro-Voice supporter and is a member if the Yes23 campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The advertisement comes after Wesfarmers – which owns major retailers Bunnings, Kmart and Target – gave the ‘Yes’ campaign a $2 million donation last week, following in the footsteps of mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto which also gave monetary gifts to show their support.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticised the move, and said on Wednesday: “I don’t want to – every time I hand over my credit card or cash at Bunnings, or at Coles – I don’t want part of that money going to an activist CEO.”

It now appears, Advance Australia – the main group behind the ‘No’ campaign and group behind Fair Australia – also shares the same views as depicted in the advertisement.

Wesfarmers Chairman Michael Chaney is drawn in the advertisement. Picture: Colin Murty

However, not all are seeing the funny side with Liberal MP and former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean among several political leaders grilling the ad.

“The racist trope of Thomas Mayo in today’s full page AFR ad has no place in Australian politics. It’s a throwback to the Jim Crow era of the Deep South,” the member for Hornsby wrote on Twitter.

“The No Campaign has every right to be heard but can do much better than this.”

Mr Kean sees the voice as an opportunity for a “better country” and is a supporter of the referendum, despite federal liberal leader Mr Dutton being against it.

“I support the voice. Because it’s about working for an Australia with more opportunity – not for some, but for all,” he tweeted on Sunday. “And changing our beautiful country, for the better.”

The racist trope of Thomas Mayo in today's full page AFR ad has no place in Australian politics. It's a throwback to the Jim Crow era of the Deep South. The No Campaign has every right to be heard but can do much better than this. pic.twitter.com/D6Hf4IhXE2

— Matt Kean MP (@Matt_KeanMP) July 6, 2023

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan also criticised the ad, claiming the Australian community is “so much better than this”.

“In a few small steps the No campaign has reduced a respectful and important national conversation to racist, sexist, insulting tropes,” she tweeted.

“Australians are kind and compassionate people. That’s why they’re voting ‘Yes’.”

Kate Chaney, daughter Michael Chaney also featured in the cartoon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Federal member for Canberra Alicia Payne labelled the ad “disgusting racist crap”, while assistant foreign affairs minister Tim Watts said Australia didn’t need to “import US style politics of personal destruction”.

Advance told news.com.au it rejects such claims the ad was “racist” and said the commentary was nothing ‘No’ supporters haven’t heard before.

“There it is again, the Yes campaign elites playing the race card straight off the top of the deck,” an Advance spokesman said.

“Matt Kean can keep his elitist Sydney views to himself … We utterly reject the premise that this cartoon is racist.

“It is a parody of the close relationship between Teal politicians, do-gooder corporate elites and the radical activists of the Yes campaign, such as Thomas Mayo.”

There should be no place for this disgusting racist crap in Australia. The referendum is an important discussion for our nation that needs to had respectfully. https://t.co/xxYQQMRmxg

— Alicia Payne MP (@AliciaPayneMP) July 6, 2023

Meanwhile Independent MP Zali Steggall took aim at the AFR for publishing such content in its paper, and called on her followers to lodge a complaint to its editor.

“Does this racist trope reflect your values (Australian Financial Review)?” she questioned.

“With media freedom comes responsibility and this is unacceptable. It highlights the deeply racist beliefs of Advance Australia & should never be accepted for publication.”

She later called on the paper’s editor and the ad agency responsible to “own up”.

“Are these your values? The standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” Ms Steggall said.

Former AFR press gallery journalist Geoff Kitney also criticised the decision to print the ad.

“I was proud to work for the AFR for many years. No-one could be proud of this. How did it get into the paper?” he asked.

A spokesperson for Nine – which owns the AFR brand – told news.com.au the company was sorry for printing the advertisement.

“The political advertisement about The Voice Referendum placed into today‘s Financial Review should not have run and we apologise for that,” the Nine spokesperson said.

“We want to encourage a mature debate from both sides and avoid personal and/or inappropriate attacks.”

Australians are expected to vote in the Voice referendum in the coming months, with some experts anticipating it will be scheduled for October.

News.com.au contacted the ‘Yes’ campaign but they did not want to comment and said Thomas Mayo would not comment. Wesfarmers was also contacted and also declined the invitation to comment.

Originally published as ‘Disgusting racist crap’: AFR, anti-voice supporters slammed for controversial cartoon