Charlotte Foster
Travel Trouble

Novak slammed by lamb ad at Australian Open

A billboard has appeared in the surrounding area of the Australian Open, taking a swipe at Novak Djokovic.

The billboard features the latest annual Australian Lamb ad, which surface every year around the upcoming Australia Day.

This year, they chose to advertise near Melbourne Park, where the tennis tournament is underway without the Serbian tennis champ. 

On the side of a truck, the Meat and Livestock Australia ad reads, “Everyone’s welcome at our BBQ. Not Djoking.”

The new ad is part of the 2022 campaign that Meat and Livestock Australia say is all about sharing. 

“Building on the ‘Share the Lamb’ brand platform, the 6-week integrated campaign reflects upon how Australia has become isolated from the rest of the world due to strict international border closures during the pandemic,” MLA says on its website.

As the story of Novak Djokovic's recent deportation has stayed in the headlines, the MLA has capitalised on the situation in their signature witty fashion. 

Novak was tipped as the player to beat in the Australian Open, before he was deported from Australia last week after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke revoked his visa, on the grounds that he had not been vaccinated for Covid-19. 

Mr Hawke argued in court that allowing Novak to compete in Australia would incite an anti-vaccination sentiment, and greatly impact the amount of people turning up for their booster shots. 

As well as the witty billboard in Melbourne, the MLA have released their full length TV ad, which showcases Australia cut off from the rest of the world and reunited by a huge barbecue. 

Check it out here. 

Image credits: Twitter @kellazzaro

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Travel trouble, Novak Djokovic, Australian Open, lamb, ad