Dick Smith channels 1980s Grim Reaper AIDS ads with warning growth will destroy Australia
Entrepreneur Dick Smith has launched a harrowing television commercial, using the same voiceover artist who was behind the 1980s Grim Reaper AIDS campaign, in a bid to warn Australians of the irreversible consequences of continuous population growth.
The ad juxtaposes politicians constantly spruiking Australia’s growth against images of pollution, overcrowding, war, famine and natural disasters.
“We’re told that endless economic growth is the solution to all our problems,” the voiceover says as clips of politicians including Malcom Turnbull, Bill Shorten, Kevin Rudd, Joe Hockey, Penny Wong and Julie Bishop appear on a TV screen saying “growth”.
“But what if growth is the problem? Endless growth is the way of a cancer cell growing forever until it kills the host that sustains it,” the ad continues.
The ad claims our children will be living in a world with 11 billion people – “consuming and polluting more than our finite planet can withstand”.
Posting on his Fair Go website, Dick Smith, said: “The demographers tell us that in rich nations such as Australia, the next generation will live shorter lives than their parents while levels of unhappiness and mental illness will be rising.
“Surely our grandkids should have as good a life as we have had? That is a fundamental belief of our group. The prime aim will be to find ways to stabilise our population and to share the wealth better.”
Smith has sought to draw attention to the campaign by hiring voiceover artist John Stanton whose chilling words about the rise of the AIDS epidemic polarised Australians in 1987.
The ad also helped establish the profile of creative director Siimon Reynolds who made the ad for the National Advisory Committee on AIDS.
High-profile publicist Max Markson has been appointed by Smith to drive media interest in the campaign in the days leading up to its launch, capturing widespread mainstream media interest.
Smith has long been a proponent of limiting Australian immigration, warning that despite the size for the nation, it cannot sustain population growth at the current rate.
The ad was created by director Josh Mawer – who has also been behind ads for Foxtel, The American Red Cross and Stoneleigh Wines.
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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I applaud raising this topic, as it leads to splinter topics about population movements, access to resources and the future for our kids – all topics that our pollies aren’t focused on.
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It’s shame that a lone voice in a sea of sharks. Best of luck Dick. You forget human nature.. Greedy and me me..
I think we are stuffed already. Jeff
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Well done Dick, we can only hope this works and for anyone that has doubt read this article: https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2017/08/will-dick-smiths-fair-go-stuff-whole-economy/
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There is a legitimate discussion to be had about sustainable immigration levels, but by throwing his hat in the ring with One Nation, Dick has ensured that this will end up becoming yet another racist cause.
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Check facts.. even if Australia doubled immigration. it will take 135 years to reach 50 million, so fear of the future, in fact of anything, is your worst enemy.
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While I agree with the overall thesis that the world’s population is growing at an unsustainable rate, is the problem really immigration? That’s where you’re going to draw your battle lines? Shutting out the rest of the world and going “it’s your problem, mate!”?
Sorry if I don’t buy it.
All this campaign will do is to incite racists and scaremongers who will unite behind it to push their own agenda.
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how? whats the math and assumptions behind that projection?
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its not racist because there are already many cultures that live in australia. overpopulation is natural and worldwide but looking at immigrants is a way of not offending the audience.
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Compound interest calculator:
Initial deposit 25Million with 200 000 deposits annually, all compounded at 1% = 45 years or 1.6% = 32 years to get 50Million…
not over 130 years!!!
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