Police issue defect notice for truck displaying anti-premier ‘Ditch the Witch’ advertisements

Victoria Police have issued a defect notice to a truck displaying advertisements featuring the phrase "Ditch the Witch" alongside AI-generated images of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. The directive requires the driver to present the vehicle to Vic Roads for inspection, following an investigation into regulatory breaches concerning the vehicle's external fittings.

The notice was issued after a complaint was lodged on 16 April regarding billboards attached to the truck that fell outside standard regulatory frameworks. The Age was the first to report the issuance of the defect notice, which targets the structural and compliance aspects of the modified vehicle rather than the content of the advertisements themselves.

The advertisements in question included AI-generated depictions of Premier Allan wearing a black pointed hat and featuring warts on her chin. These images were interspersed with advertisements for a brothel and were observed travelling across Melbourne for several weeks prior to the police intervention.

The imagery prompted strong condemnation from senior politicians and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The political backlash focused on the nature of the AI-generated content and its use in targeting the state leader, although the regulatory action taken by police remains strictly focused on vehicle standards.

Victoria Police confirmed the defect notice was a direct result of the investigation into the billboards. The requirement for the driver to present the truck to Vic Roads highlights the enforcement of safety and modification regulations for commercial vehicles operating on public roads.