A social media video featuring the current Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson and three of her predecessors has sparked political debate, with the party aiming to show unity ahead of November's state election. The clip, set to the 1989 track 'Pump Up the Jam', was released to mark what would have been the opening ceremony of the regional Commonwealth Games, cancelled by the state government in 2023 at a cost of nearly $600 million.
The video includes MPs performing mock events such as the 'running out of money relay', 'highest taxes and debt high jump', and 'budget bomb'. Highlights show Wilson doing bombs into a swimming pool, Brad Battin in a muscle shirt curling 20kg, and John Pesutto throwing a discus in blue jeans. The cast also features former leaders Matthew Guy and a range of MPs from across the party's factions, including conservative upper-house members facing preselection challenges.
Wilson's small social media team wrote, filmed, and edited the video, replicating a formula from previous well-viewed Instagram reels. Communications professional David Imber praised the video as 'genuinely impressive', noting it shows the party room is 'united' and 'hungry to win'. However, he cautioned that some viewers might see it as trivial given serious issues like rising petrol prices and overseas conflicts.
Premier Jacinta Allan dismissed the video as 'petty politics', but even Labor sources conceded it was funny and gave Wilson credit for participating. They argued, however, that Allan would face harsh criticism for a similar stunt. The video has generated significant discussion at Spring Street, with analysts noting the internal significance of including MPs from across the party's spectrum after more than 12 years in opposition marred by internal divisions.
