Scott Morrison Ripped Off That Cringey 'Back In Black' Campaign From New Zealand, So Why Couldn't He Copy Their Current PM Instead?

There was so much to unpack from that fustercluck of a 2019 budget announcement a few days ago but its underlying theme was basically trying to endear now-PM Scott Morrison and his government to everyone by using cash and a dash of old school rock n’ roll. Literally.

Morrison made a big show about a budget surplus of $7 billion (which was actually just a projection) by posting a cringey AC/DC-quoting photo of himself looking into the camera, which was as effective in making him more likable as throwing a steak to a lion and expecting it to not be eaten.

As it turns out, not only did Morrison sully AC/DC’s “Back In Black” for generations to come, he completely ripped the whole image off former New Zealand PM John Key.

Key and New Zealand’s National Party had shared a virtually identical campaign image about five years ago for their own budget surplus announcement, only they did it far better. Whereas Morrison looks like he’s sitting on the toilet and looking like he’s in dire need of a laxative, Key looks cool, calm, and regal by comparison.

Of course, ripping off campaigns isn’t really anything new for the Coalition. Who can forget that glorious moment in 2016 when Malcolm Turnbull copped a heap of well-deserved ridicule from both sides of the pond for ripping off his completely meaningless “Continuity With Change” slogan from the HBO show, Veep?

You’d think that a bloke with an advertising background such as Morrison would be aware on how the whole ripping off campaigns thing works but it appears that’s giving him too much credit. To be fair, he’s probably a little preoccupied with other things, like the upcoming election that’s almost certain to be a bloodbath.

But of all the things Morrison could’ve ripped off from New Zealand, couldn’t he copy their current PM Jacinda Ardern instead? Definitely a missed golden opportunity there.