Australia news live: support for One Nation edges ahead of Labor in new poll; RSV warning for older Australians

Former prime minister Julia Gillard issued a rare political comment after a Melbourne brothel owner admitted to funding advertisements targeting Victoria premier Jacinta Allan using the phrase “Ditch the Witch”.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the billboards were paid in part by Franco Puleo, who told the paper the ads weren’t a “political” statement, but a reflection of “basically what the Victorian public feel”.

Gillard said she was “disgusted” to see the phrase used again after being subject to it herself.

double quotation mark This was a slogan used against me as prime minister fifteen years ago.

It was roundly condemned then. In the years since, my view has been that things were slowly improving for women in politics. 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.