The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, and the firefighters union boss, Peter Marshall, faced criticism after attending a rally in Melbourne’s west where the slogan “ditch the bitch” was displayed on a fire truck. The slogan, targeting Premier Jacinta Allan, draws comparisons to the infamous “ditch the witch” poster Tony Abbott supported in 2011, which was widely condemned as sexist and misogynistic towards Julia Gillard. Gillard referenced the sign in her 2012 misogyny speech, later stating it should have ended Abbott’s career.
Micaela Drieberg of Gender Equity Victoria and Helen Bolton of Respect Victoria condemned the use of misogynistic language, emphasizing that such behavior sets a precedent for how women are treated in both public and private spheres. The slogans were reportedly created by female volunteers from the Country Fire Authority’s Pura Pura brigade, though the CFA and UFU have distanced themselves, stating the slogans were not endorsed or pre-approved. Battin and Marshall delivered speeches at the event, with Battin saying he did not endorse the signs, focusing on the financial and emotional strain faced by farmers and volunteers. The protest was against the new emergency services levy, which has been paused for farmers in 2025-2026 due to drought, leading to further conflict and protests. Allan, currently on leave, was criticized by the acting premier, Jaclyn Symes, who accused Battin of ignoring sexist slogans at the rallies he attends.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/15/disgusting-slogan-apparently-directed-at-victorian-premier-seen-at-rally-attended-by-brad-battin-and-union-boss-ntwnfb
