The sign belonging to Sporties Hotel on Charles Street read: "Cheers to birth control, the second best thing you can swallow to keep you from getting pregnant".

The sign was noticed on Friday by Chloe Wilson who started a petition on change.org calling on the pub to issue an apology for the "misogynistic, distasteful and offensive sign".

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According to the petition, after receiving feedback on the offensive material staff at Sporties removed the sign and replaced it with a new message that read: "I hear there's a new app called 'sense of humour' download it".

The reaction to the petition, launched on Friday afternoon, has been strong with the initial target of 1000 signatures passed in just 12 hours.

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In a post made to Facebook on Saturday morning Sporties owner Nick Daking apologised for the sign.

"I would like to sincerely apologise for the message written on our board yesterday. As soon as I became aware of the sign, it was immediately removed," he said.

The petition raised concerns about the systemic and ingrained culture of misogyny in the community, with Mr Daking also a member of the City of Launceston council.

"The owner of this establishment is an elected member of the Launceston City Council - we would hate to think that this is an acceptable attitude held by council members, elected to represent the people of Launceston," it reads.

The petition said there was nothing funny about perpetuating a hotbed for sexist and ignorant attitudes towards women and called for an apology and acknowledgement of the harm the sign has caused.

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Ms Wilson said she was shocked when she saw how many people had signed the petition but grateful the issue resonated with so many in the community.

She said after the second message appeared to delegitimise her concerns she was sceptical of the sincerity of the apology but commended Mr Daking for responding to the issue.

She said the petition was never intended to shame or cancel anyone but felt the sign promoted a harmful message to women in the community and needed to be addressed.

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Sporties Hotel made headlines last week after Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Paralympian Todd Hodgetts the two should meet at the pub for a catch up next time he was in Launceston.

"If we both find ourselves back in Launceston one day I'll meet you at Sporties," he said.

"It has a very good steak, its parmi is not bad either. I was there last with Peter Gutwein and he cleaned me up on the pool table, 100 percent, be careful if he challenges you to a game of pool, he knows what he's doing."

The Prime Minister has frequented the hotel on previous visits to the state.

Mr Daking has been contacted for further comment.

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