‘This missed the mark’: Labor apologises after controversial post
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Political messaging can be a powerful tool, but when it misses the mark, the backlash can be swift.
A recent social media post from a major political party sparked controversy, drawing unexpected comparisons and strong reactions online.
What unfolded next led to a quick reversal and a public apology.
A Labor Party social media post was taken down after users pointed out its resemblance to a white nationalist slogan.
The post, which appeared on the party’s official social media pages, featured a man wearing a T-shirt with an Australian flag superimposed on a map of the country.
Above the image, bold text read: ‘This is Australia.’
The slogan beneath it stated: ‘We eat meat, We drink beer, And we love Medicare.’
The accompanying caption called on ‘Aussie patriots’ to defend Medicare.
However, social media users quickly noticed similarities between the T-shirt in the post and a piece of racist memorabilia archived by Museums Victoria.
The archived shirt, sold in 2009, featured a nearly identical design but included the words: ‘This is Australia. We eat meat, we drink beer and we speak f****** English.’
Museums Victoria described the original shirt as targeting Muslims due to dietary restrictions around alcohol and non-halal meat.
‘The slogans on these t-shirts are racist and seek to define Australian identity by excluding "the other" and by excluding anyone who dares to voice criticism,’ the museum’s website stated.
It also noted that phrases like ‘If You Don’t Love It, Leave!’ and ‘Support it or F*** Off’ were often associated with this kind of messaging.
Criticism of the Labor Party’s post spread quickly, with some accusing the party of repurposing a far-right slogan.
‘Have you been hacked by the far right,’ one person commented before the post was deleted.
‘How cringe-worthy. It’s incredible that someone thought repurposing a racist meme was a good idea,’ another wrote.
A different user called out the social media team for ‘toxic, patriotic masculinity.’
Facing mounting backlash, the party removed the post and issued an apology.
‘Labor is seeking to reach everyone with our message that Australians value Medicare and we’ll do everything we can to protect it from Peter Dutton’s cuts,’ a spokesperson said.
‘However, the party acknowledges this post missed the mark and it has been deleted.’
In a previous story, we explored how new legislation could see Australians fined up to $55,000 for racist remarks.
With debates over national identity and inclusivity continuing to make headlines, the conversation around harmful rhetoric is more relevant than ever.
Learn more about the latest laws and what they mean moving forward.
Political messaging can be tricky, and even well-intended posts can spark controversy.
Do you think this was an honest mistake or a major misstep? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A recent social media post from a major political party sparked controversy, drawing unexpected comparisons and strong reactions online.
What unfolded next led to a quick reversal and a public apology.
A Labor Party social media post was taken down after users pointed out its resemblance to a white nationalist slogan.
The post, which appeared on the party’s official social media pages, featured a man wearing a T-shirt with an Australian flag superimposed on a map of the country.
Above the image, bold text read: ‘This is Australia.’
The slogan beneath it stated: ‘We eat meat, We drink beer, And we love Medicare.’
The accompanying caption called on ‘Aussie patriots’ to defend Medicare.
However, social media users quickly noticed similarities between the T-shirt in the post and a piece of racist memorabilia archived by Museums Victoria.
The archived shirt, sold in 2009, featured a nearly identical design but included the words: ‘This is Australia. We eat meat, we drink beer and we speak f****** English.’
Museums Victoria described the original shirt as targeting Muslims due to dietary restrictions around alcohol and non-halal meat.
‘The slogans on these t-shirts are racist and seek to define Australian identity by excluding "the other" and by excluding anyone who dares to voice criticism,’ the museum’s website stated.
It also noted that phrases like ‘If You Don’t Love It, Leave!’ and ‘Support it or F*** Off’ were often associated with this kind of messaging.
Criticism of the Labor Party’s post spread quickly, with some accusing the party of repurposing a far-right slogan.
‘Have you been hacked by the far right,’ one person commented before the post was deleted.
‘How cringe-worthy. It’s incredible that someone thought repurposing a racist meme was a good idea,’ another wrote.
A different user called out the social media team for ‘toxic, patriotic masculinity.’
Facing mounting backlash, the party removed the post and issued an apology.
‘Labor is seeking to reach everyone with our message that Australians value Medicare and we’ll do everything we can to protect it from Peter Dutton’s cuts,’ a spokesperson said.
‘However, the party acknowledges this post missed the mark and it has been deleted.’
In a previous story, we explored how new legislation could see Australians fined up to $55,000 for racist remarks.
With debates over national identity and inclusivity continuing to make headlines, the conversation around harmful rhetoric is more relevant than ever.
Learn more about the latest laws and what they mean moving forward.
Political messaging can be tricky, and even well-intended posts can spark controversy.
Do you think this was an honest mistake or a major misstep? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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. This is our country so they can bugger off and take their s***t with them. They need to speak English, dress as we do and obey our LAWS .
