More than 500 supporters of Meat and Livestock Australia's (MLA) controversial Australia Day commercial have banded together to stop a "miscarriage of justice" in the banning of the ad.
The Facebook community group, Save Our Australia Day Lamb Advert, has sprung up overnight after its creator Ken Harris was concerned that the ad designed for Australians “to have a laugh at ourselves” is on the brink of being removed.
The commercial, created by The Monkeys, has been a source of controversy, namely for the depiction of a vegan's table being set on fire.
“It's an iconic ad, every Australia Day we wait for it to come out,” Harris says.
“The MLA don't bombard us with adverts all the time like a lot of corporations do, they put all of their money into Australia Day but when they do it they do it well - just look back to the Richie Benaud adverts of last year.”
So far, more than 400 complaints have been made to the ASB, which is holding a fast-tracked review into the ad next week, ahead of Australia Day.
While Harris is not a representative of the MLA in any way, he says he plans to appeal the process if it does get banned by the ad watchdog.
“If it was to be banned on the basis of the complaints, as far as I have seen what their basis is, it would be very un-Australian and a miscarriage of justice,” he adds.
The Facebook page has proved popular, already clocking up 665 followers at the time of publication.
It also expressly rules out “racist, sexist and politically biased remarks,” with Harris noting the page's aim is to discuss the commercial.
“I think a lot of Australians also see it as political correctness gone overboard. The complaints were just the straw that broke the camel's back,” he says.
“I thought I would logically and calmly voice an opinion which seems to have echoed the thoughts of a lot of people, including vegans and including Indigenous Australians who also think complaining about it is just a bit silly and that perhaps we should get over it.”
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