Man told to return controversial number plate
A Sydney man faces losing his licence if he doesn’t return his personalised number plates that have been deemed too controversial.
A Sydney man is days away from having his car registration suspended after Transport for NSW deemed his personalised number plate “inappropriate and offensive.”
Speaking to Ben Fordham this morning, the man who goes by Eddie revealed he received a letter advising to return the personalised plates by November 24, or face losing his licence.
Eddie has had the number plate which spells “Il Duce” for six months, and calls the move a “transgression of our freedom of speech and our rights to political beliefs and ideologies.”
In Latin, Il Duce means ‘leader’, but is also the title for notorious leader of Italy’s National Fascist Party, Benito Mussolini.
Mussolini’s 21-year dictatorship was comprised of brutal war crimes, political slayings and an allyship with Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany.
“There is a connotation to Mussolini … but if my name was Adolf, apparently I wouldn’t be able to put that name on my plate,” said Eddie.
But he claims the words have nothing to do with Mussolini, instead indicative of his role as his director at his company.
“It’s under my company ownership, you know, the words really mean ‘the leader.’ I’m the director of the company and apparently I’m not allowed to have those plates on my car,” he said.
“It’s another damning indictment of the woke left imposing their thoughts on our society.”
Eddie said he has sent a follow-up email to Transport for NSW who have stood their ground, insisting the plates must be returned before Monday.
“They’re not compensating me for the special plates that I’ve put on. It’s nearly $900 and they’ve just willingly decided ‘No you can’t have them.’”
However, a spokesperson for Transport for NSW told news.com.au that they were in fact refunding the annual fee for the plates.
“Transport for NSW will refund the balance of the annual fee owing for the ILDUCE number plates and issue replacement number plates at no cost,” they said.
“The ILDUCE plates were reported as offensive by a member of the public and recalled after an assessment by Transport for NSW.
“The decision to withdraw the plates is based on a wider perception they could be directly related to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
“The ILDUCE number plates were originally issued due to an oversight in the vetting process.
“Transport for NSW apologises for any stress or inconvenience caused.
“The owner is required to return the ILDUCE plates to a Service NSW outlet on or before Monday 24 November.
“When he does so, he will be given general issue black-on-yellow plates on the spot and he will be able to continue to operate his vehicle once they are affixed.
“The man can then order a new set of personalised plates up to the same value of the ILDUCE number plates free of charge, but he must pay any annual fees.”
In NSW the Department of Transport use an automatic process to vet number plate applications which is supplemented by manual checks.
Plate combinations with “offensive language” or are of a “religious, violent, explicit or sexual nature” are monitored and refused.
Plates might also get knocked back if they are promoting unsafe driving or drinking.
When you apply for a personalised plate in NSW the department maintain ownership and you pay them for the right to display it.
Last year, anger erupted after a number plate reading ‘88-SS’ was spotted attached to a luxury Lexus sports car at a Victorian Westfield.
88 pertains to code among neo-Nazis for “Heil Hitler” and SS refers to the notorious paramilitary unit that terrorised Jews during World War II.
