'Not our friends': Victorian Coalition warns Advance's 'bizarre' campaign may cost it majority government
News Source
•Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:00:02 GMT
📰 What Happened
Coalition MPs in Victoria have criticised a campaign by the conservative lobby group Advance. They call it bizarre and warn it could cost them a majority government at next month's state election.
From Monday, Advance will run ads in 20 suburban and regional seats held by Labor. The campaign is expected to cost about $350,000. Its centrepiece is a 60-second AI-made video with Premier Ben Carroll and former premiers Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews. The message is: put Labor last.
Advance hit back, calling the criticism galactically stupid.
🔍 The Backstory
Advance says the Victorian campaign is a test run for the next federal election, which is not due until 2028. Some of the 20 seats it picked are also being contested by One Nation, including the very close seat of Pakenham.
Coalition candidates have spent months telling voters that only a vote for them can defeat Labor. MPs say Advance is now saying the opposite. One Liberal source said the group is not our friends. Analyst Ben Raue said the ads could hurt the Liberal and National parties.
🎯 Why It Matters
In close seats, every preference counts. A campaign from outside a party can decide who wins and who ends up running the state.
Coalition MPs in Victoria have criticised a campaign by the conservative lobby group Advance. They call it bizarre and warn it could cost them a majority government at next month's state election.
From Monday, Advance will run ads in 20 suburban and regional seats held by Labor. The campaign is expected to cost about $350,000. Its centrepiece is a 60-second AI-made video with Premier Ben Carroll and former premiers Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews. The message is: put Labor last.
Advance hit back, calling the criticism galactically stupid.
Advance says the Victorian campaign is a test run for the next federal election, which is not due until 2028. Some of the 20 seats it picked are also being contested by One Nation, including the very close seat of Pakenham.
Coalition candidates have spent months telling voters that only a vote for them can defeat Labor. MPs say Advance is now saying the opposite. One Liberal source said the group is not our friends. Analyst Ben Raue said the ads could hurt the Liberal and National parties.
In close seats, every preference counts. A campaign from outside a party can decide who wins and who ends up running the state.