Fresh push to ban 'See you the NT' merchandise from being sold on council land

A polarising marketing slogan for the Northern Territory has been debated in a City of Darwin Council meeting with aldermen passing a motion that could see 'CU in the NT' merchandise banned from sale at local markets.

Aldermen voted to enforce a by-law that would prohibit the sale of offensive materials at markets on council land.

While most Darwin City aldermen were unable to bring written complaints from their constituents to the table, the Mayor told chambers a prominent Territorian had lodged a formal complaint with the police commissioner over the slogan.

The motion was passed at a slim margin of 6 against, 7 for.

One alderman claimed he had heard the offensive word in question used as a term of endearment, and that people are living in "an age of being easily offended".

The debate follows calls to ban the controversial tourism slogan from being sold on council land.

The slogan, CU in the NT, is accompanied by the words 'The top end. Different from the bottom end'.

Complaints had been raised that a Nightcliff market stall was selling merchandise with the slogan, near to a children's playground.

The logo has been printed on a range of souvenirs from tyre covers, to bar mats, and mud flaps. But, the best-selling item in the NT is the stubbie cooler.

However the coordinator of the Nightcliffe Markets Ross Dudgeon said the merchandise was  strictly sold to adult customers.

Government and Council leaders across the Territory said they opposed to the play on words with TLord Mayor Kon Vatskalis describing the 'CU in the NT' slogan as a "very, very childish message".

A NT Unofficial told 9News their stock at Mindil Markets has been selling for years without any issue.