Queensland tourism ad slammed for ‘whitewashing’ indigenous culture

A Queensland Council has been accused of whitewashing a rural city’s indigenous culture in its latest tourism advert.

The $6000 ad was launched on Monday by Rockhampton Regional Council, and aimed to promote the region’s tourism potential, Nine News reported.

Social media launched an attack on the ‘Rockhampton Can’ advert, accusing the promoters of whitewashing the city’s proud indigenous culture.

Furious residents also claimed the advert ‘didn’t celebrate the Darumbal people’.

Social media launched an attack on the ad, accusing the promoters of whitewashing the city’s proud indigenous culture (pictured one of the actors in the ad)

‘What a whitewash!!’ one post read.

‘When 60 000 years of existence means nothing,’ another person wrote. 

A few hours later, the post was deleted from all social media accounts. 

The Rockhampton Regional Council Twitter account apologised for the video.

‘We have now taken this video down. You are right and we should not be promoting the Rockhampton Region without celebrating the Darumbal people, the area’s long history, and our diverse community. We apologise and we will do better,’ they wrote. 

Mayor Margaret Strelow takes on full responsibility for the advert, admitting indigenous marketing had been an issue for a few years.

She said, ‘If we look at our marketing material for the last two years we’ll probably find that it hasn’t represented the diversity,’ the publication reported. 

Ms Sterlow said she initially didn’t pick up on the issue until it was brought up on social media saying ‘we have to do better.’ 

The council will work towards a new campaign representing different cultures.   

Mayor Margaret Strelow (pictured) takes on full responsibility for the ad admitting indigenous marketing had been an issue for a few years