AN AUSTRALIAN MINISTER has called for the removal of a huge, risque “Rooting for the Wallabies” advertisement which shows a wallaby in a compromising position with a lion.
The tongue-in-cheek ad, daubed across a field on the approach to Melbourne international airport ahead of Australia’s rugby series with the British and Irish Lions, shows a wallaby in an Australia jersey winking as he hugs a red-shirted lion from behind.
“What better way to get behind the Wallabies than to create a massive wallaby getting behind a lion?” said Sportsbet.com‘s Haydn Lane, who claims it is the world’s largest painting at 170 metres (561 feet) wide by 90 metres (297 feet) tall.
But Victorian state Environment Minister Ryan Smith was not impressed, saying the offensive sign should be removed.
“It is totally inappropriate, we will be insisting that it is removed as a matter of priority,” he told the Melbourne Herald Sun.
The Wallabies play the Lions in the first of three Tests in Brisbane tomorrow.
Wallabies star Matt Giteu tweeted that he thought the promo was ‘all in good fun’.
