Pauline Hanson has urged Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to “suck it up, sweetheart” after she was depicted in a political ad campaign as a witch in a hat with a pointy chin.
While the ads have been condemned by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as unacceptable, one of the backers of the campaign, who runs a brothel in Melbourne, has insisted the ads are not sexist.
Senator Hanson brushed off the controversy on Sky News, insisting she had experienced far worse during her time in politics.
“Suck it up, sweetheart,” Senator Hanson said.
“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.”
Brothel owner funding ‘witch’ campaign
Franco Puleo, owner of the Gotham City brothel in South Melbourne, told The Age newspaper on Monday that the $105,000 campaign was not sexist and represented a legitimate political attack on the Victorian Premier.
“She doesn’t answer questions. She’s not accountable to everything. It’s just how people are feeling,” he said.
“That’s not a political ad. It’s basically what the Victorian public feel.”
Last month, Mr Puleo was criticised for controversial ads for his brothel featuring topless women that included the slogans “Can you handle three?” and “Start your week with a bang!” Mr Puleo told reporters that the ads were “tastefully done”.
In April, Gotham City was the target of a drive-by shooting, following the city’s spate of attacks on hospitality venues. The driver fired from a moving vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Anthony Albanese raises safety fears
Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the ads had completely crossed a line.
“The sexist campaign targeting the Victorian premier is totally unacceptable and has no place in public life,” he said.
“Young girls will see that, you know, depiction of a premier as a witch, just like the denigration that Julia Gillard suffered from as Prime Minister, and it is just not on.
“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.”
Mr Albanese said threats against politicians were rising and urged all Australians to ‘turn the temperature down’.
“What I don’t want to do is to have a press conference in this courtyard after a tragedy,” he said.
“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 and be prepared to make sacrifices.
The Liberal Party denies involvement
Liberal MP David Southwick said that his party was not involved with the ads.
“We don’t condone that kind of behaviour. Our thoughts are certainly focus on the government because the government are the problem, not the individual.”
Julia Gillard slams witch ads
Julia Gillard said she was “disgusted” by the use of the same slogan 15 years after she was targeted.
“It was roundly condemned then. In the years since, my view has been that things were slowly improving for women in politics,” she said.
“I am saddened to see that improvement cast aside and this tired old trope resurrected.”
“Why should women and girls in Victoria be subjected to such visible misogyny?” she added.
