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'Sexist' Campaigns Damaging Public Life, PM Says
Anthony Albanese said the sexist campaign targeting Jacinta Allan has no place in public life and warned personal attacks can fuel political violence.
On Friday, a billboard truck bearing the slogan "Ditch the Witch" and an edited image of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was spotted driving through Melbourne, drawing widespread condemnation as sexist.
Melbourne brothel owner Franco Puleo admitted on Monday that he helped fund the $105,000 campaign, defending the ads to The Age as a "legitimate political attack" rather than sexism.
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard denounced the campaign, saying she was "disgusted" by the "tired, old trope resurrected" after facing the same slur 15 years ago. "Why should women and girls in Victoria be subjected to such visible misogyny?" she asked.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned on Monday that rising personal attacks could lead to political violence, condemning the campaign as "totally unacceptable" and urging Australians to "turn the temperature down."
While Opposition Leader Jess Wilson condemned the language as inappropriate, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson dismissed the controversy, telling Allan to "suck it up, sweetheart" and claiming she had experienced worse.
Politics Now discuss backlash to the 'Ditch the Witch' billboards targeting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and parallels to Julia Gillard ahead of Victoria’s election