Labor MP Renee Coffey fights back after iconic ‘AUSSIE’ poster turned into racist statement near Brisbane’s Norman Park station

A Labor MP has helped restore a famous Peter Drew “AUSSIE” street art poster after the word “INDIAN” was placed over the artwork’s original message.

The poster near Norman Park station Brisbane was defaced before Member for Griffith Renee Coffey stepped in to remove the label.

Coffey documented the incident and clean-up in a video shared on Facebook, which also includes snippets from social media posts showing the people who altered the poster, effectively turning the artwork’s original message of inclusion into a racist statement.

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In one of the clips, one of those involved is heard saying “Much better!” after “INDIAN” was placed over “AUSSIE”.

Coffey told 7NEWS.com.au she spotted the vandalised posters on Sunday while travelling from the opening of a newly renovated sporting clubhouse in West End to an event at a local school in Cannon Hill.

She said she immediately went home to collect a step ladder, a squeegee on a pole and her tallest son.

“When my son asked me where we were going, I said, ‘To fight racists’,” Coffey said.

Coffey said she did not support unauthorised postering on public property and cautioned it was strictly against the law.

But she said seeing renowned Australian artist Drew’s work in her Griffith community was “a genuine delight” for her and many locals.

“Peter Drew’s iconic artwork represents an inclusive, warm, welcoming Australia that I believe in, and challenges narrow, exclusionary definitions pushed by our political opponents,” she said.

Coffey was joined by Jacob, who stopped after passing by in his car, and Scott, who answered her Facebook call for a ladder and paint scraper.

As they worked to reveal the original “AUSSIE” message, Coffey is heard saying: “Not today, racists, not today.”

In a Facebook post accompanying the video, Coffey thanked the pair.

“Thanks also to all the people who shouted ‘thank you’ from their cars,” she continued.

Coffey said the reaction from locals showed the importance of standing against racism.

“Nothing weakens our social cohesion more than people who try to use our differences to drive us apart,” she said.

“Racism has absolutely no place in our community, as evidenced by the number of locals who shouted out ‘thank you!’ and passers-by who stopped to help us.”

She said everyone should call out racism “wherever and whenever we see it” and make clear that everyone who calls Australia home deserves to feel welcome and respected.

Peter Drew’s “AUSSIE” posters feature people including Indian, Chinese and Afghan migrants who lived in Australia. Credit: Peter Drew

Drew’s AUSSIE series was launched in 2016 and uses historic photographs of Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds to challenge narrow ideas about Australian identity.

His posters feature people including Indian, Chinese and Afghan migrants who lived in Australia, with “AUSSIE” printed beneath their portraits.

One of the best-known images features Monga Khan, an Indian-born Muslim cameleer and hawker who arrived in Australia in the late 19th century.

The posters have repeatedly been targeted by vandals, with some ripped down or altered with racist messages.