Labor leader Bill Shorten has agreed the party's new ad campaign requires more diversity after it was mocked on social media for being blinded by the white.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The new ad aired in marginal electorates on Channel 9 on Sunday night, with a campaign theme of "Employ Australians First".
But it was the image of Shorten standing next to a group of overwhelmingly white Australians that got social media talking.
The backlash was instant.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the ad was "subtle as a sledge-hammer".
As subtle as a sledge hammer.
Honestly, what are Labor thinking? This is awful, just awful. pic.twitter.com/MJgZvamdBO??? Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) May 7, 2017
Others on social were also quick to weigh in.
So @billshortenmp if your policy is "Employ Australians First", does that mean permanent residents come second? Cos it sure reads like it. https://t.co/sXAFNEYB0Q??? Dom Knight (@domknight) May 7, 2017
Getting a pretty clear message from this on how you feel about me and my fellow migrants, @billshortenmp + @AustralianLabor pic.twitter.com/8fEQffHsAB??? Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) May 7, 2017
Here is Bill Shorten embracing diversity. If you look very closely, you'll spot what appears to be an Asian woman. pic.twitter.com/X0S4bUgRAQ??? MonsterDome (@Monster_Dome) May 8, 2017
The indignation and mockery continued:
Guys, you can stop freaking out about this ad now because Bill Shorten's office has confirmed all these people have lots of ethnic friends. pic.twitter.com/ObM4eQSZ9J??? Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) May 8, 2017
Hey @billshortenmp you know there are Australians that aren't white, yeah? pic.twitter.com/RY8b2EcHm8??? Marc Fennell (@MarcFennell) May 7, 2017
Here is Bill Shorten embracing diversity. If you look very closely, you'll spot what appears to be an Asian woman. pic.twitter.com/X0S4bUgRAQ??? MonsterDome (@Monster_Dome) May 8, 2017
"If you thought the Oscars were #SoWhite, just wait 'til you see..." pic.twitter.com/RdQxtZENwS??? Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) May 7, 2017
So much white... it's blinding pic.twitter.com/8MB2NHa0TX??? Kemal Atlay (@kemal_atlay) May 7, 2017
Labor MPs have reportedly voiced concerns about the ad in private.
Shorten fronted the media on Monday morning announcing that the campaign ad would be reviewed.
.@BillShortenMP says a much-criticised Labor advertisement about Australian jobs could have used more diversity #auspol pic.twitter.com/hR1QY3Ly3r??? Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 8, 2017
Mr Shorten told reporters in Canberra he did not believe the ad was racist, but would seek a review of it.
"I am not in the business of making ads," Mr Shorten said.
"We have too many rorts in the visa system. I had a look in the final product and I think we need more diversity and I will speak to the Labor party about that."
with AAP