As the race for the Wentworth by-election heats up a fake email has claimed that independent candidate Dr Kerryn Phelps is living with HIV and withdrawing from the race.
The ABC has reported the email, that was sent to voters from a fake email address, falsely claims the candidate is living with HIV and encourages people to vote for Liberal candidate Dave Sharma.
There is no suggestion that Sharma or the Liberal party have any involvement in the email.
Dr Phelps said the content of the email was “shocking and disturbing.”
“When I went into this campaign people warned me that there would be dirty tricks, but this is next level,” Dr Phelps told the ABC.
The email also encouraged people to pull down the candidates posters.
“There have been misinformation campaigns going around about me, scare tactics and all manner of tactics that are being used to try to undermine my campaign.” Dr Phelps said.
The Sharma campaign told the broadcaster wished to make no comment about the email. Labor’s candidate Tim Murray said there was no place for such actions in Australia’s democracy.
“I condemn the dirty tricks fake email targeting Dr Kerryn Phelps. There is no place for this sort of behaviour in our democracy. Professor Kerryn Phelps is an outstanding Australian and we should all be grateful someone of her calibre is willing to run for office.” Murray posted to Twitter.
Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said the smear campaign was offensive for many reasons including the stigmatisation of people living with HIV.
“This is a disgrace on a number of fronts not least of which is the stigmatising of people with HIV. I thought we were passed this sort of rubbish.” King posted to social media.
Sally Rugg, Executive Director at Change.org said the email campaign was homophobic and reinforced stigma.
“There are so many things wrong with this. It’s homophobic and absolutely atrocious.” Rugg said. “And to be clear: having HIV doesn’t have anything to do with anyone’s ability to be a member of parliament, or anything else they seek to do in life. Let’s be careful to not reinforce stigma.”
The Wentworth by-election for former Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull’s seat will be held on Saturday. If the Liberals lose the seat the Morrison government will become a minority government.
OIP Staff
