Nick Xenophon near tears over campaign attacks on family

POPULAR SA senator Nick Xenophon has come close to tears on the ABC, as he described the impact his campaign is having on his family. WATCH THE VIDEO

• The major seat NXT could take out
• Labor, Lib unload on Nick Xenophon and his candidates
• ‘Dirty deals’ to keep NXT party out of lower house
• How the Federal Election could give Mr X even more power
• John Howard blasts Xenophon, predicts NXT vote will fade

NICK Xenophon has come close to tears on ABC program Lateline as he described the impact his campaign is having on his family.

On Monday night, the NXT Senator said the political mudslinging had been much more difficult given that his family has been targeted for criticism.

When pressed by reporter David Lipson he revealed the attacks on his 85-year-old father, whom he loves “to bits”, had affected him most.

“I just have to be supportive of him and hopefully that part of it will be over once the election’s over,” he said.

His father has been the subject of newspaper articles investigating his property affairs, which have also revealed the Senator — a proud campaigner on political accountability — failed to declare a directorship of a company run by his father.

The ABC interview was aired just hours after Christopher Pyne and his Labor counterpart Kim Carr refused to take any responsibility for the rise of the Xenophon vote and ABC election analyst Anthony Green predicted NXT will win multiple lower house seats.

NXT Senator Nick Xenophon came close to tears on the ABC as he talked about campaign attacks on his family. Pic: Darren Galwey/The Australian

At an innovation debate at the National Press Club on Monday afternoon, neither Mr Pyne or Senator Carr would concede their party has made missteps in the industry portfolio that had driven up the Nick Xenophon vote.

Senator Carr said “since I’ve had charge of this industry and innovation policy for some time I am not likely to quickly agree with that proposition”.

Mr Pyne said he had only been in the portfolio for nine months.

Senator Xenophon has campaigned strongly on support for automotive manufacturing and was a catalyst for the Government’s decision to build the frigate and submarine fleets in Adelaide.