Offensive Slogan Targeting Victorian Premier Displayed at Rally with Brad Battin and Union Leader

A crude slogan, “Ditch the bitch,” aimed at Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, appeared on a fire truck at a July 2025 rally in Werribee, attended by Liberal Opposition Leader Brad Battin and United Firefighters Union (UFU) boss Peter Marshall. The protest against the state’s new Emergency Services Levy (ESL) has ignited controversy over misogynistic language, with both leaders distancing themselves from the offensive display.

The rally, held on July 13, 2025, saw farmers and Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers protest the ESL, which funds agencies like the CFA and State Emergency Service (SES) amid rising extreme weather events. The inflammatory slogan, reminiscent of the 2011 “ditch the witch” attack on then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard, drew widespread condemnation. Acting Premier Jaclyn Symes slammed Battin, stating, “This pathetic display from Brad Battin tells you everything about the Liberals’ deep-rooted issues with respecting women,” per The Guardian. Battin, speaking from another fire truck, condemned the language, saying, “I do not endorse offensive signs or language at the protest – anger should not become personal attacks”. Marshall, UFU Victorian secretary, also denounced the slogan, with a spokesperson noting, “This language is unacceptable. Mr. Marshall and the UFU condemn it in the strongest possible terms”.

The incident highlights tensions over the Labor government’s levy, criticized as an unfair burden on regional communities. Other slogans, like “Truck Jacinta” and “Raping the regions for the ring of steel,” referenced Labor’s COVID-19 policies, amplifying rural discontent. Micaela Drieberg of Gender Equity Victoria told The Guardian, “It’s exhausting and demoralising for women in leadership,” urging equal standards for gender-based attacks. The Labor government’s focus on funding emergency services, while necessary, has been accused of neglecting rural economic pressures, fueling such protests.

Battin’s presence at the rally, alongside his conservative-leaning leadership, underscores the Liberal Party’s challenge to balance regional advocacy with distancing from extreme rhetoric. As Victoria approaches the 2026 election, this controversy risks alienating voters who demand civility in political discourse, while highlighting the need for robust leadership to address legitimate grievances without inflammatory excess.