# Liberal campaign bus hits shop awning on first day out

> Jess Wilson's 'Jess Express' reversed into a jewellery store in Bentleigh during its maiden campaign outing, damaging the awning but injuring no one.
- Title: Liberal campaign bus hits shop awning on first day out
- Summary: Jess Wilson's 'Jess Express' reversed into a jewellery store in Bentleigh during its maiden campaign outing, damaging the awning but injuring no one.
- Keywords: jess wilson, liberal party, victorian election, campaign bus, bentleigh, victoria, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/06/liberal-jess-wilson-campaign-bus-crashes-into-shop-first-day-victorian-election
- Published: 2026-11-06T02:28:02+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jess wilson, liberal party, victorian election, campaign bus, bentleigh, victoria, news, politics
## The Jess Express unveiled
The Victorian Liberal party launched its campaign bus, the Jess Express, on Friday, 12 days after Labor unveiled its own red campaign bus.
## Bus design and messaging
The large blue bus carried opposition leader Jess Wilson's image and slogan, A Fresh Start for Victoria, plus a warning to motorists about dodging Labor's potholes.
## Bus reverses into awning
At Centre Road in Bentleigh, the bus reversed into a jewellery store awning while attempting to park for a street walk with Liberal candidate Tynan Putt.
## Wilson's response and damage
Wilson grimaced as the incident unfolded and quipped that the store's owners would easily find the culprit given her face was on the bus. The bus sustained minor scratches.
## Store owner's discovery
James Oppedisano, the jewellery store owner, was working out the back when the crash occurred. He learned about it from missed calls and a text from the Liberal party.

> I came back to my phone to find multiple missed calls from random numbers, including a text message from the Liberal party saying something about my awning.
## Oppedisano's election hopes
Oppedisano said he was yet to decide who to vote for but hoped fixing his awning would be an election promise actually delivered.
## Campaign history repeats
Campaign buses have caused problems before. Peter Dutton's bus got stuck on a concrete divider during the 2025 federal election. Victorians vote on 28 November.
## Key takeaway

The Victorian Liberal party's campaign bus struck a shop awning while reversing in Bentleigh on Friday, the first day of the election campaign.