Matthew Camenzuli, a former federal political candidate, has criticized Victoria's new Premier Ben Carroll using a gender-based slur, referring to him as an "androgynous wolf in sheep's clothing." The attack, posted on social media, also alleged that the recent leadership change was merely cosmetic and that Carroll has not distanced himself from the policies and record of previous Labor leaders Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan.
Camenzuli, who previously ran for the western Sydney seat of McMahon, asserted that all government members bear responsibility for the Labor party's performance in Victoria. "Every individual that has been a part of empowering the worst government in Australia's history is as tainted by their participation as their leaders," Camenzuli wrote. He further described Carroll as "nothing more than a fresh face on a team that is totally incompetent, corrupt, or a terrible mix of both."
The former candidate also pointed to the state government's handling of various issues, including its COVID-19 policies, state debt, infrastructure projects, and the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Camenzuli claimed that government policies have led to mounting debt and suggested that some funds may have been mismanaged.
These remarks come as recent polling indicates a deepening electoral challenge for the Labor party since Carroll assumed the premiership. A poll conducted by RedBridge/Accent Research shows Labor's primary vote has fallen to 23%, a three-point decrease since the leadership change. In contrast, the Coalition's support has risen to 30%, and Pauline Hanson's One Nation has seen a significant surge, increasing its vote share to 22%.
The results suggest a substantial decline for Labor since the 2022 state election, when it secured 36% of the primary vote. The Coalition's support has dropped by four points over the same period, while One Nation has experienced a dramatic increase from less than 1% in 2022. If these trends continue, the Coalition, led by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, could be in a strong position to form a majority government.
Meanwhile, One Nation has announced eight candidates for the upcoming Victorian election, including seven lead candidates for its upper house tickets. Warren Pickering has been named as the party's prospective parliamentary leader and a candidate for the Pakenham seat.