'Vagina' number plate causes major hoo-ha

Following a public backlash, the Australian Roads and Traffic Authority have backed down from their letter sent to Newcastle lawyer Kristen Perry asking to explain her ‘‘Kiki’’ number plate. The nickname Kiki, which was given to Mrs Perry before she could even walk, had put her in hot water with the RTA because her number plate also translates into a term for female genitals in the Filipino language of Tagalog.



‘‘The RTA has a responsibility to investigate complaints about personalised plate content, but we recognise that in doing this we must take a common sense approach,’’ a spokeswoman said. ‘‘We recognise in this case a common sense approach was not adopted and Ms Perry will retain the content of her plates.’’ The nickname is a term of endearment which Mrs Perry said had cemented links with her Greek heritage and first adorned her cars more than five years ago following a loving gift from her husband.

‘‘I rang my father last night and said: ‘Do you know you have been calling me vagina all my life?’,’’ she said. ‘‘He just said ‘What?’ He was appalled.’’ Mrs Perry was left flabbergasted after being sent a ‘‘please explain’’, the RTA threatening to confiscate the number plate if she did not ‘‘show cause’’ within a fortnight. An RTA spokeswoman said one person had complained that the plates were insulting to the Filipino language so Mrs Perry and another motorist, who also had ‘‘Kiki’’ featured, were issued notices.


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‘‘I have always been called Kiki by my family, many of my friends call me that,’’ Mrs Perry said. ‘I think it is just so funny.’’ Mrs Perry said Kiki was a shortening of her name in the Greek language and the number plates were given to her by her husband, Steven, five years ago – first on a Mini before she upgraded to a Porsche.