Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has apologised for a Commonwealth Games ad featuring a tradie riding a pink children’s bike.
The ad was supposed to humourously encourage Gold Coast residents to find alternative forms of transport to avoid traffic delays during the Games in April.
Residents along with athletes were depicted running, riding and even pole vaulting around the city, with the tradie wearing high-vis with his tools in the bike’s basket.
Tradies were offended by a Commonwealth Games ad featuring a worker in high-vis riding on a pink children’s bike, feeling it was mocking them
But tradies felt the campaign was mocking them by suggesting they ride to work and showed the government didn’t understand how it would affect them.
Mitchell Hemmings, a carpet layer who used to pump concrete, said it was not realistic to ride to work, do 12 hours of hard labour and then ride home.
‘There wouldn’t be a Commonwealth Games without the work we’ve done and to now tell us to get on our bikes is extremely rude… it’s just a spit in the face for tradies,’ he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Self-employed mobile mechanic Mike Staples said an information stall suggested he take two weeks off work or catch a bus with his toolbox.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has apologised to anyone offended by the lighthearted campaign
The ad was supposed to humourously encourage Gold Coast residents to find alternative forms of transport to avoid traffic delays during the Games in April
‘They use a silly (image) like that but it’s not a joke for me. I need to earn money,’ he said.
‘(That ad) does make you feel like they’re treating (the issue) as a joke but it’s serious for us mobile guys.’
Ms Palaszczuk apologised to anyone who was offended by the tradie riding the bike and encouraged Games organisers to do the same.
‘I don’t want anyone to feel that, you know, that people are having a laugh at them,’ she said.
Residents along with athletes were depicted running, riding and even pole vaulting around the city
Ms Palaszczuk encouraged Games organisers to apologise too, leading to chief executive Mark Peters (R) following her lead
‘If people are feeling that way, I apologise, and I think Commonwealth Games people should apologise as well.
‘But let me also make it very clear, that the Get Ready for the Games (campaign) is about essentially making sure people know their transport options.’
Games chief executive Mark Peters said including the tradie on the bike was being reviewed but there was a lot of positive feedback on the lighthearted campaign.
‘You don’t want to insult people and, as the Premier said, if that’s happened certainly across the (Games) partnership that’s an apology,’ he said.