'A complete fiasco': Aussies appalled by the $10 million decision to replace 'Australian Made' kangaroo with a new logo that looks like COVID-19
- Australia's national symbol has been changed from kangaroo to abstract wattle
- The new national logo will be used to market Australia to the rest of the world
- Stylised gold blob, which cost $10million, was chosen to be 'a blank canvas'
- Sleek new design was slammed on social media as it looks like COVID-19
Australia's iconic national kangaroo logo has been replaced with an abstract image of a gold wattle that looks more like COVID-19.
The new national brand, which cost $10million to create, was unveiled on Tuesday night and will be used to market Australia to the rest of the world.
The gold blob, chosen to be 'a blank canvas, to tell a new Australian story', has been met with a huge amount of criticism, with some even comparing it to a 3D model of the coronavirus.
The new national brand will be used to market Australia to the rest of the world. The stylised gold blob (pictured) was chosen to be 'a blank canvas, to tell a new Australian story'
Australia's Nation Brand Advisory Council felt the kangaroo only reinforced what foreigners already knew about Australia
'Australia's official logo has changed from the Kangaroo to the COVID19 symbol... sorry Wattle,' one person wrote.
'Kangaroo is still better than a symbol of hay fever,' another wrote.
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'Utter F**kwitts. Changing the Australian Kangaroo icon for a gold ring of dots that has no connection with Aussie's...PUT THE KANGAROO ICON BACK,' wrote another.
'The new ''Australian Made'' symbol of the golden wattle is a terrible replacement for the current one of green triangle with the yellow kangaroo,' another person wrote.
Australia's Nation Brand Advisory Council was was set up under former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured)
'It cost $10m of our money to decide on this change? Leave it or make a new spin on this iconic logo, I say,' another wrote.
NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham slammed the design as a 'waste of money creating confusion internationally'.
'In light of the Wuhan virus, it's now plain embarrassing as it looks like a representation of COVID-19,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'It's a complete fiasco that should be chucked in the bin.'
Australia's Nation Brand Advisory Council, which was was set up under former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, made the decision to scrap the kangaroo.
The council was chaired by mining magnate Andrew Forrest and included Twiggy Forrest, Qantas chief executive, Vogue editor-in-chief Edwina McCann and Mike Cannon-Brookes.
In a report by the council, which was accepted by Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, it was explained that the kangaroo only reinforced what foreigners already knew about Australia.
The council found that Australia should pushing other, lesser-known assets such as technology and education.
'Australia is internationally popular for its friendly people and natural beauty. However, there is room to improve perceptions around our business capability. There is an opportunity to increase foreign investment if we can strengthen awareness of our products and services overseas,' the report said.
'We love our kangaroo — it is currently the most internationally recognised shortcut to Australia. But we considered whether it would shift perceptions of our nation, or simply reinforce what people already knew about us.'
The council said its preference for the Nation Brand mark was the wattle.
'It's our national flower and, while it is not immediately recognisable internationally, it will become so over time.'
The logo will be used by business, industry and government agencies.
