Tensions have emerged between the Victorian Coalition and the conservative advocacy group Advance ahead of next month’s state election. Several Coalition MPs have expressed concern that Advance’s campaign tactics are “bizarre” and could potentially jeopardize the party’s chances of securing a majority government. The friction centers on a new campaign initiative from Advance, which includes a 60-second AI-generated advertisement featuring the state premier.

Advance has responded sharply to the criticism, with representatives dismissing the Coalition’s concerns as “galactically stupid.” The group argues that the Coalition should be focusing on their standing in the polls rather than attacking their allies. Advance plans to launch its campaign across 20 suburban and regional seats currently held by the Labor Party. The group has explicitly framed this effort as a testing ground for broader strategies to be deployed in the next federal election.

While the Coalition fears that the aggressive nature of the campaign may alienate voters and damage their electoral prospects, Advance maintains that their approach is essential for conservative success. The disagreement highlights a growing divide between traditional party structures and independent lobby groups that operate outside of official campaign channels. As the election approaches, both sides remain at odds over whether these tactics serve as a useful tool for mobilizing voters or a liability that distracts from the Coalition’s core platform.