Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard has issued a rare political statement in the wake of a targeted “ditch the witch” campaign against Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
The slogan was an insult hurled at Ms Gillard 15 years ago but had been unearthed in the lead up to the State election in paid advertising against the Labor government.
The campaign has included billboards on a roving advertising truck which depicted Ms Allan in a witches hat that has a dollar sign in the middle of it next to the controversial slogan.
Ms Gillard said she was “disgusted” by the adverts and “saddened” to see the “tired old trope resurrected”.
“It was roundly condemned then. In the years since, my view has been that things were slowly improving for women in politics,” she said.
“More women are leading, sexism hasn’t gone away but it is less ferocious in the political mainstream, though social media continues to be a toxic sewer.
“I am saddened to see that improvement cast aside and this tired old trope resurrected.”
Ms Allan also condemned the ads and labelled it a “secret and well-funded political campaign”.
Nine papers revealed on Sunday that the billboards were paid in part by Melbourne brothel owner Franco Puleo, who insisted the ads were a reflection of “basically what the Victorian public feel”.
“Sexism just has no place in our political debate, full stop,” Ms Allan said.
“A 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.”
Anthony Albanese was also strident in his remarks about the “ditch the witch” depiction at a press conference in Canberra on Monday.
The Prime Minister said that the Australian public and the media needs to “dial the temperature down” or accept the consequences.
“The sexist campaign targeting the Victorian premier is totally unacceptable and has no place in public life,” the PM said.
“What worries me is the misogyny that’s involved there. It should be a contest of ideas, not personal attacks.
“But it comes in a context as well, as I’ve stood in this courtyard so many times and said, turn the temperature down. We all have a responsibility.
“Young girls will see that depiction of a Premier as a witch, just like the denigration that Julia Gillard suffered from as Prime Minister. It is just not on.”
He also reminded people of a string of cases before the courts about threats made against politicians.
“There was one in court again on Friday, one in court the Friday beforehand,” he said.
“I just say, you know, turn the temperature down, either that or accept responsibility for the consequences of it, because the consequences undermine the opportunity, and whether people will go into public life
“We want to encourage women to enter public life.”
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, however, issued a brutal response to the targeted campaign, insisting Ms Allan should “suck it up”.
“Suck it up, sweetheart,” Ms Hanson told Sky News on Monday, saying she has also had countless personal attacks throughout her political career.
“If you’ve seen what’s happened to me over the years, I remember years ago, (former Nationals leader) Tim Fischer called me a witch and (said) I should be burned at the stake.”
“So I’ve been tagged that long before you … Besides, Jacinta, I’ll tell you something, I’ve heard on the grapevine, you won’t be there in a couple of weeks.”
“Don’t worry about the billboard anymore … it’ll be blank because you won’t have your photo up there, you’ll be gone.”
Victorian Opposition leader Jess Wilson, Federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor, and Nationals leader Matt Canavan have not spoken publicly on the attack.
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