Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy has defended an election advertisement that criticises vaccine mandates and refers to Premier Daniel Andrews as a "p***k".
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While in Shepparton on Tuesday spruiking the Coalition's land-release announcement, Mr Guy said the ad only repeated words of "the union movement".
"That ad is based off the wording of the own trade union movement," Mr Guy told reporters.
The advertisement features footage from Melbourne's infamous anti-vaccine mandate construction shutdown riots and asks the viewer if they remember when "we hit the streets" to protest lockdowns.
"Remember when Andrews forced us to get the jab or lose our job? Now even our own unions are admitting he's a p***k," the ad says.
Mr Guy said the advertisement did not imply he was backtracking on his position on vaccine mandates for workers in aged care and health, but would not be drawn on whether he identified with anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown protests.
"I think a lot of Victorians do agree with it, and I think a lot of Victorians are worried about the conduct of the premier," Mr Guy said.
Responding to reporters in Geelong, Premier Daniel Andrews would not comment on opposition ad campaigns, but said vaccines save lives.
"Simple as that. They're free, they're safe, they are available," Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said Victorian lockdowns were due to not having vaccines available at the time.
Australian Associated Press
