New Victorian Liberal Party leader Jess Wilson has been mocked for taking party in a smoking ceremony ahead of Labor Premier Jacinta Allan’s apology to aboriginals.
Ms Wilson, who ousted Brad Battin last month to become the first woman to lead the party, did not support the government’s apology in parliament on Tuesday because of its reference to the state’s controversial treaty, but made her own statement saying sorry to aboriginals.
Ms Allan made a formal statement apologising for “harm inflicted” on indigenous people and bemoaning the colonisation of Victoria, which she called “rapid and violent”.
Before the special parliamentary sitting Ms Wilson was photographed bending over pile of burning leaves tended by an indigenous activist wearing the anti-Australian slogan “always was, always will be”, which sparked criticism from United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet.
Victoria’s Liberal Party leader Jess Wilson proudly taking part in a smoking ceremony today.
So stunning, so brave. 🤦♂️The Liberal Party is utterly cooked. And let me be crystal clear, I will do everything in my power to ensure they lose the next election. They cannot be allowed… pic.twitter.com/nIIIcWfSWc
— Senator Babet (@senatorbabet) December 9, 2025
“The Liberal Party is utterly cooked. And let me be crystal clear, I will do everything in my power to ensure they lose the next election. They cannot be allowed to stumble back into government. There is no difference between them and Labor. None at all,” Mr Babet wrote on social media.
“But do you know what the Liberals are good at? Lulling the masses into a false sense of security… Selling the tyranny just a little better… Keeping the public docile so they never rise up.
“This party needs to be put out of its misery. It should be disbanded entirely. Because if it continues down this path, Victoria is doomed.”
His posts attracted hundreds of supportive comments on X and Facebook, with many expressing their frustrations at the Victorian Liberals.
“Anybody who participates in these humiliation rituals is not in a conservative party, The Liberal Party is dead in the water,” wrote on Aussie.
“So have smoking ceremonies replaced prayer in the public space now?” asked another.
“Meanwhile they’re fighting to take gas away from us, can’t make this shit up,” said a third.
Ms Wilson’s participation in the smoking ceremony came after she attended a “multicultural cocktail party” last week with federal multiculturalism spokesman Paul Scarr to try to win over immigrant voters.
She made a speech to the event, titled A Fresh Start For Victoria, in Thornbury on Wednesday where she said her first major outing as leader was to an African Day event, and promised to “earn the trust” of minority groups.
According to a Resolve poll published on Sunday, the Coalition is now ahead of Labor by 11 points on primary votes in Victoria, with an estimated two-point lead on a two party preferred basis.
Ms Wilson has a positive net approval rating of 14, while Ms Allan’s was at minus 17, and the new Liberal leader is seen as preferred premier by 45% of voters, compared to 26% for her Labor opponent.
Header image: Jess Wilson attends the smoking ceremony (Parliament of Victoria).
