Adman Adrian Elton takes aim at Josh Frydenberg's $60 billion JobKeeper error

Paige Murphy
By Paige Murphy | 25 May 2020
 

Independent creative director Adrian Elton, the man behind the viral Clive Palmer Ikea ad, has taken aim at Australia's treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Elton has created a spoof ad that mocks the Federal Government's $60 billion JobKeeper miscalculation that came to light at the end of last week.

The billboard is an "ad" for Officeworks selling a calculator with copy that says: "Geez Josh... $60 billion and not a single cent for musos, artists or temp workers? Should've come to Officeworks."

Frydenberg initally estimated JobKeeper payments would total $130 billion but has since noted the estimate is closer to $70 billion.

Elton says that extra money could be re-allocated to creatives who haven't been eligible for other payments.

"After the utter debacle of the federal response to the bushfires over summer it was with the greatest relief to see the national leadership pull their fingers out, put the partisan bullshit to one side, and actually let the best science cast the deciding vote in the national response to the pandemic," says Elton.

"Together we not only flattened the curve, but absolutely pummelled it.

"The only truly sour note in an otherwise incredible response was seeing the way that some of Australia's most talented and hard working creative practitioners were deemed 'irrelevant' workers and literally thrown under the bus.

"Yes it would have been expensive - but it also could have been a defining and priceless moment for national unity and pride if the message had been, 'None of us saw this coming. You're all important. Papa Morrison's got your back.'

"So now that we've found out that, hey-presto, there's $60 bill more in the kitty than was needed - surely it'd only take a few taps of the ol' el-cheapo Officeworks calculator - and those mountains of moolah could be re-directed in full, or in part, to help the amazing people that keep our souls inspired, and our tummies full."

Elton, known for his spoof ads, also recently attempted to solve the toilet paper crisis that occurred at the start of the pandemic.

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