An Australian Labor Party ad has caused controversy and accusations of racism.
A screenshot from the campaign video shows Labor leader Bill Shorten with a group of mainly white Australians. Photo: Screenshot / ABC
In the video ad, the Labor leader Bill Shorten promises to "employ Australians first", delivering the message while standing next to a group of mostly white Australians.
It has been slammed by both Labor and government MPs.
The ABC understands the advertisement went to Mr Shorten's office before it was broadcast. Some concerns were raised, but it was not clear whether those related to a lack of diversity in the video.
Mr Shorten would not say whether he or anyone in his office viewed the advertisement before it was broadcast.
"I've said on social media that whilst I'm not in the ad business, when people pointed out that there was an insufficient amount of diversity I think people are right," Mr Shorten said on Monday night.
"So, I've said fair cop, I think in future the execution of these ads needs to be done a lot more carefully and I've had that discussion with the party administration already."
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has criticised the advertisement, saying it was a "shocker" that should never have been produced.
Mr Shorten would not say why the video was only broadcast in Queensland and did not respond to claims from government MPs it was designed to appeal to Pauline Hanson's One Nation voters.
-ABC
