Magda Szubanski’s Sharon Strzelecki appears in controversial COVID-19 campaign from Victorian Government

Magda Szubanski has reprised her role as Sharon Strzelecki from television series Kath & Kim for the first in a series of new public service advertisements from the Victorian Government. The work focuses on coronavirus precautions, including wearing a mask outside of the home.

The ad, which has already garnered a mixed reaction from the community, kicks off with Strzelecki playing netball alone and arguing with herself, before reminding Victorians that stage four lockdown ‘is not the enemy, it’s the virus’.

Premier Daniel Andrews has attributed the idea of the campaign to former ABC Radio Melbourne host Jon Faine, who has been promoting the ads on social media. He told a press conference that Faine suggested: “…we use some really well-known Victorians, a bit of humour.”