WASHINGTON DC: Former prime minister Tony Abbott has bought into the controversy over posters labelling Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan as a witch.

Major parties have condemned posters that have appeared around Melbourne recently depicting the Labor Party leader as a witch and urging voters to “Ditch the Witch!” at the November state election.

Mr Abbott, recently elected unopposed as the federal Liberal Party president, was asked about the issue by former NSW Liberal Party premier, Dominic Perrottet, in a Q&A session at a book launch in Washington DC. (main picture)

Mr Abbott echoed comments by mainstream Australian political leaders condemning the posters but also raised a megaphone he was carrying and used it whenever he cited the words “DITCH THE WITCH!”.

The loudness of the three words uttered numerous times by Mr Abbott when answering the question and magnified by the megaphone caused Mr Perrottet to cover his own ears.

The former NSW premier followed up by asking if Mr Abbott held any views on One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson’s, comment that Ms Allan should “harden up” in the face of the poster campaign.

“You mean the DITCH THE WITCH! campaign?” Mr Abbott asked Mr Perrottet who, after uncovering his ears again confirmed it was the subject of his question.

This gave Mr Abbott a chance to once again hold forth on the anti-Labor poster campaign and again use the megaphone whenever he uttered the words “DITCH THE WITCH!”.

Mr Perrottet then ventured into specific policy areas, asking Mr Abbott if he could list the priority policies he wanted the party to take to the 2028 federal election.

“I’d appreciate it if you might give some detail about such policies and not just your somewhat famous three-word slogans,” Mr Perrottet said jokingly.

In response Mr Abbott gave a shortlist of headline policies he said he as federal Liberal president would be urging Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to pursue.

“End mass migration. Cut Labor’s taxes. No net zero,” Mr Abbott replied.

There was an awkward silence for almost a minute as an expectant Mr Perrottet waited for any further details.

Breaking the silence, Mr Abbott added as an apparent afterthought: “Give Rupert ABC.”

With no further comment coming from Mr Abbott, Mr Perrottet pressed on with another line of questioning.

“The Liberal Party preferenced One Nation in the Farrer by-election over other more centrist parties like Labor or even the Greens,” Mr Perrottet noted then added, “Could you explain the thinking behind that decision? Perhaps in some detail. We do have time.”

Mr Abbott replied: “Labor Party bad.”

Seeing that Mr Perrottet was anticipating more details, Mr Abbott said: “One Nation better.”

Again as Mr Perrottet waited for details, the former PM added: “Greens destroy Australia.”

Despite his statement about the ample time left for discussion, Mr Perrottet then wrapped up the interview.

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