Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard Unleashes over Melbourne Brothel-funded ‘Ditch the Witch’ Billboards Aimed at Jacinta Allan
By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
A series of political ads targetting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan seen on vans linked to a South Melbourne brothel have been slammed by ex-prime minister Julia Gillard.
The vans displaying billboards which show Allan dressed as a witch have circulated around the Melbourne CBD for about a month and have been partly funded by adult nightspot Gotham City.
‘I am disgusted to see the use of the slogan ”Ditch the Witch” in Victoria and aimed at Premier Jacinta Allen,’ Gillard said.
‘This was a slogan used against me as prime minister fifteen years ago.’
Gillard – who was the first female elected to Australia’s top job and famously called out misogyny in a parliamentary speech – demanded the people who funded the boards be named.
‘Whoever funded the billboards bearing these signs should be outed for what they are – unimaginative and sexist,’ she said.
‘The billboard company should do the responsible thing and take these signs down immediately. Why should women and girls in Victoria be subjected to such visible misogyny?’
On Sunday, Allan herself condemned the campaign in a statement, also calling the messaging sexist and unacceptable.
Trucks depicting Allan as a witch (pictured) have been driving around Melbourne’s CBD
Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, famously gave a speech calling out misogyny in Parliament
The ads portray the Victorian Premier as a witch and feature the slogan ‘ditch the witch,’ echoing rhetoric previously used against former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
‘Sexism just has no place in our political debate, full stop,’ Allan said.
‘A billboard truck using sexist language has been driving around Melbourne as part of a secret and well-funded political campaign. People are entitled to disagree with me, that’s democracy. But I care that this attacks women. And I care about who’s next.’
Allan also criticised the media for failing to call out what she described as behaviour that would once have been widely condemned.
‘Media don’t call it out. They report on this like it’s fair game, like it’s normal. But nothing about this is normal. If you don’t take a stand against this creeping culture, it has a tendency of taking over,’ she said.
She warned that Australia risks following the trajectory of political discourse in the United States.
‘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,’ she said.
‘Sexism hurts everyone. If the media won’t call it out, I will.’
Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) condemned the advertisements, labelling them ‘sexist’
Gotham City, the brothel linked to the ads, was the target of a drive-by shooting earlier this year.
The incident is part of broader wave of shootings and arson attacks affecting Melbourne nightlife venues, which authorities believe are tied to organised crime.
Speaking to Daily Mail, a spokesperson for Gotham City did not deny involvement in the campaign and used the opportunity to criticise Allan and the Labor government.
‘I think all Victorians have had enough of corruption. Money spend without knowing where it’s gone. Unions and secret deals. The crime is out of control.’
The spokesperson referenced the attack on their venue and broader concerns about crime.
‘Victoria is in safe and people too scared in our own homes. There’s no police. No nurses. And [Allan] has not made any effort to assist hospitality venues with fire bombs and shootings. We have been shot at. And our premier says zero.’
They also took aim at the government’s controversial machete disposal bins, established following a crackdown on knife crime, which cost $13million to taxpayers.
‘Spends millions on [machete] bins. And government projects costs blown out of control. Taxes and more taxes. That’s all she knows to do. Her and the Labor Party must go.’
The ads are linked to brothel Gotham City (pictured) which was a target of a drive-by shooting
The Opposition condemned the signs, saying they would not ‘condone’ their message.
‘Those posters obviously weren’t endorsed or authorised by the Liberals,’ he told reporters on Sunday.
‘The Liberals and Nationals will never take that kind of attitude. We don’t believe in that type of thing. We don’t condone that kind of behaviour.
‘Our focus is on the government, because the government is the problem, not the individual.’
Pressure continues to mount on Allan ahead of the November election, with reports earlier this week that Labor MPs were losing confidence in her ability to lead the party to the election.
