Canning MHR Andrew Hastie’s face has been covered by an Australian Unions sticker on a local seat advertisement.
Camera IconCanning MHR Andrew Hastie’s face has been covered by an Australian Unions sticker on a local seat advertisement. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Federal Election: seat of Canning smear campaign claims

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

THE date of the Federal Election has been called and already the fight for Canning is sinking into accusations and denials of a smear campaign.

In an email to constituents, sitting member Andrew Hastie claimed Labor was “fighting dirty” and took a shot at Mandurah MLA David Templeman.

But Mr Templeman said he had never run a dirty campaign and never would.

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Canning MHR Andrew Hastie.
Camera IconCanning MHR Andrew Hastie. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mr Hastie said signs around town paid for by “hundreds of generous locals” had been defaced.

One of the signs had an Australian Unions poster covering Mr Hastie’s face on a seat advertisement.

“That’s what the ACTU blow-ins think of grassroots democracy,’’ Mr Hastie said.

“Mr Templeman had a crack at me for living outside WA.

“I had thought it pretty common knowledge that serving in the Australian Defence Forces meant living where you were posted.

“Now Mr Templeman has piled in on the back of a smear piece accusing me of directing local clergy what to preach.

“It’s disappointing he is pushing smears, but not surprising. Labor will try anything to unseat me.

“They will say and do anything to win government but we won’t be deterred by Labor’s dirty tricks or sink to their level.”

Mandurah MLA David Templeman.
Camera IconMandurah MLA David Templeman. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mr Templeman said he did not condone such behaviour and thought it bizarre that Mr Hastie was so concerned with him as a State Member of Parliament.

“Mr Hastie should be focused on the needs of his Canning electorate, not belittling local clergy, accusing the Labor Party of dirty tricks or having shots at me at every opportunity,’’ he said.

“Mr Hastie, you are not running against me.

“I have never run a dirty campaign and never will.

“My commitment to the people of Mandurah stands for itself.”

Mellisa Teede.
Camera IconMellisa Teede. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Canning Labor candidate Mellisa Teede said she and her volunteers were running a positive campaign.

“Canning has been neglected by the divided, desperate and out of touch Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government,” she said.

“Unlike Andrew Hastie, I am focussed on the issues important to the people of Canning, like fixing our hospital and properly funding public schools that have been neglected by the Liberals.”

The Federal election is on Saturday, May 18.