Victoria’s political opposition has pounced on Premier Ben Carroll’s petrol drive-off, paying for mocking ads at service stations in his electorate.
The ads are on the digital screens some service stations have above the bowsers, and show an AI image of Mr Carroll smugly grinning with car keys in hand as a service station worker chases him.
“Hey Ben, don’t forget to pay because we’re sick of paying for Labor,” the ad says.
The real photo the Liberal Party posted to social media shows the advertisement is on display at a BP station.
“We’ve launched these ads across Ben Carroll’s electorate. Maybe next time he won’t forget to pay, because we’re sick of paying for Labor,” a party spokesperson said.
The comments section on X appears rather critical of the Liberals’ service station ads.
“Your job is to win an election in a month and you don’t yet have a majority. Victoria has a federal politician who’s just lost both legs, killer roads and another interest rise looming. The electorate’s mood is serious and you’re boasting about a prank that makes the guy look human?,” one commenter said.
“Childish. Is this really what the Liberal Party has become? And you wonder why people are turning to One Nation,” another said.
Mr Carroll drove off from a petrol station on Monday without paying, an error he said came after a long day of work and when he was out running a family errand.
On Monday afternoon, independent Victorian federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office, and has since had both legs amputated.
Mr Carroll skipped out on a $90 petrol bill later that night, on the way to return a pencil case to his daughter’s friend’s house.
Police contacted the Premier’s office the following day, and by Wednesday the incident hit the media.
“Late Monday night, I was running some errands and filled up the car with petrol,” he said on Wednesday morning.
“Found out yesterday I forgot to pay. I fixed the bill straight away.”
The Premier said a busy working day on Monday extended into the evening.
“Monday was a tough day for a lot of reasons, and I got home and I had a busy night on the phone.
“And my wife and I had a discussion about who was going to return (his daughter’s) friend’s pencil case.
“I said, I’d do it and I’d get petrol. And then I found out the following day I hadn’t paid for the petrol.”
Victorians head to the polls on November 28.