Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned truck billboards targeting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan with the phrase “ditch the witch”, describing the campaign as sexist and unacceptable.
The billboards have drawn comparisons to a controversial anti-carbon tax rally about 15 years ago, when former opposition leader Tony Abbott spoke at an event where a “ditch the witch” sign targeting former prime minister Julia Gillard was visible.
Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said the campaign raised serious concerns about misogyny in public life.
“What worries me is the misogyny that’s involved there. The sexist campaign targeting the Victorian premier is totally unacceptable and has no place in public life,” he said.
Albanese argued that political debate should focus on ideas and policy differences rather than personal attacks.
“We want to encourage women to enter public life and it should be a contest of ideas, not personal attacks,” he said.
The prime minister also linked the incident to broader concerns about political discourse in Australia, repeating his calls for people to “turn the temperature down”.
“You can have a disagreement with people’s policy position by all means. You don’t have to denigrate people in such a personal way. It has got to stop,” Albanese said.
He added that young girls should not be exposed to political leaders being portrayed in that manner.
“Just like the denigration that Julia Gillard suffered from as prime minister … it is just not on,” he said.