Source : Perth Now news
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has slammed increasingly “corrosive” political debate in Australia less than six months out from a contentious state election after a “sexist” campaign billboard was spotted in Melbourne.
A billboard sporting the slogan “Ditch the Witch” was spotted driving around the Melbourne CBD on Friday night, according to the Herald Sun.
The slogan was previously used against former prime minister Julia Gillard amid fierce debate over the 2011 carbon tax, and comes after Ms Allan was targeted by a seperate, more crude slogan stating “ditch the b***h” on a fire truck at a rally in 2025.
Taking to social media to slam Friday’s campaign, Ms Allan said “sexism just has no police in out political debate. Full stop”.
“People are entitled to disagree with me. That’s democracy,” she said.
“But I care that this attacks women.
“And I care about who’s next.
“The political debate in this country has become corrosive over the last few years.”
Ms Allan claimed Friday’s campaign was “part of a secret and well-funded political campaign”.
She said behaviour which “would once have been condemned” was now “just another part of life”, and alleged the media had failed to call it out.
“They report on this like it’s fair game, like it’s normal. But nothing about this is normal,” Ms Allan said.
“If you don’t take a stand against this creeping culture, it has a tendency of taking over. You only have to look at America to know that.
“I cannot stand back and let Victoria become a place where this sort of language is fair game against any woman at work – or any woman in leadership.
“If we don’t draw a line, the line will keep moving.”
Ms Allan said she wanted her children to grow up knowing that “women deserve the same respect as men”.
“I want girls to know that they should never need to aim lower just to feel safer,” she said.
“And, I want boys to know that they don’t have to put women ‘in their place’ to make their own way in the world. Sexism hurts everyone.”
Ms Allan, who took over from controversial ex-premier Daniel Andrews in 2023, faces a tough fight when voters return to the polls in November amid falling popularity, controversy around infrastructure and crime, and a surge in support for One Nation.
The Bendigo MP has faced questions over the future of her leadership in recent days.
