In a saner world, governments would redirect the funds for “bonkers” ad campaigns to communities where rates of violence against women are in epidemic proportions, according to Sky News host Rita Panahi.

Her comments come after a federally funded campaign to educate students about consent using bizarre analogies – including a milkshake – was taken down following widespread criticism.

“But anyone with a television in recent weeks has been subjected to the equally absurd ‘Stop it at the Start’ campaign,” Ms Panahi said.

“Where a bloke yelling out ‘you’re playing like a girl’ at a soccer match and ten-year-olds fighting in the backyard are presented as examples of dangerous attitudes to women that lead to violence”.

“What a load of rubbish. That ad will do nothing to stop violence against women, but manages to demonise young boys and conflate serious issues around the treatment of women with nonsensical tripe aimed at policing speech that is neither dangerous nor sexist.”

Ms Panahi pointed to another “almost identical” government ad campaign from five years ago, noting the campaign cost taxpayers “upwards of $30 million” and did “precisely nothing in reducing violence towards women”.

“Thankfully two of the bonkers consent ads with the milkshakes and end zones have been spiked … but the ‘Stop it at the Start’ ads will continue, with the federal government pledging more than $16 million up to 2022 towards the campaign,” she said.

“In a saner world those funds would be redirected to communities where rates of violence against women are in epidemic proportions. That would save lives.”