Centrelink number plate on $150K Mercedes spotted on Aussie road sparks debate
After a West Australian captured these cheeky number plates, motorists were left torn over whether they're offensive or just a bit of fun.
An Australian driver sporting a luxury European car has been accused of "belittling the poor" after somebody snapped a photograph of their cheeky number plates.
Captured in Perth and posted to social media this week, the shiny black Mercedes is seen in an image with plates that read: "CENTRLINK" — an obvious nod to the government's income support service. "I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink," the uploader wrote beside the photo of the vehicle believed to be a type of Mercedes C-Class, which retails for over $150,000 brand new.
And what started as a single post quickly turned into a heated debate after people flooded the comments with their views, many seemingly torn over whether the plates are in fact "tasteless" or just a bit of harmless fun.
"An odd choice of plate, I'm surprised it's not banned," one responder, offended by the plates, commented. "It clearly will frustrate those who are on Centrelink, through no fault of their own..hopefully the driver will one day grow up."
"I get that it’s a joke plate, but there’s something really tasteless about rich people belittling the poor," echoed a second. "There’s a word for that kind of person, but I just c**t put my finger on it."
Driver ordered to return 'offensive' number plates or rego will be cancelled
Number plate with 'naughty' hidden message spotted on Aussie roads
At least a couple of drivers found the humorous side.
"I can just imagine some people actually take this seriously," a person wrote. "I feel like there are so many more [in poor] taste," said another. "They're like Australia's version of political or opinion stickers."
"It's pretty funny," wrote a third.
From offensive to quirky: Australia's number plates
While in this instance, the Mercedes' owner is not breaking any known road rules or laws, it comes after a string of questionable number plates did actually catch the eyes of authorities earlier this year.
In February, the driver of a car sporting custom number plates that appeared to reference the date Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel was ordered to return them or risk their vehicle's registration being cancelled.
In March, a controversial number plate was ordered off the road in SA, after an Adelaide resident posted a photo of a blue and white number plate which looked as though it had been modified with paint.
Another "clever" plate also emerged that month out of WA, which requires viewers to flip their screens upside down to reveal a hidden message.
In April, a Tesla driver was labelled "self-aware" after their plates, which read "Tosla", went viral online — a play on the on the Aussie favourite phrase "tosser". Also that month, a WA motorist snapped a picture of a plate on a Ford Ranger ute that read "1H8EPPL".
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