Josh Frydenberg sticks by story in Kooyong election contest

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has responded to accusations he launched “personal attacks” on his political challenger’s family.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has responded to accusations of “personal attacks” on his political challenger’s family.

Mr Frydenberg is sticking by his story of an encounter with his political rival’s 87-year-old mother-in-law.

The Treasurer told the crowd at his official campaign launch on Sunday that independent Monique Ryan’s elderly relative had told him she would vote for him.

Dr Ryan is threatening to unseat Mr Frydenberg from the inner-Melbourne electorate of Kooyong, long considered Liberal heartland, with their bitter contest turning personal.

Dr Ryan, one of the so-called teal independents being bankrolled by the Climate 200 fundraising vehicle, has admitted her mother-in-law said she would vote for Mr Frydenberg.

But Dr Ryan insisted her relative had been “misquoted” in some of her conversation with the Treasurer.

Mr Frydenberg is adamant the encounter happened exactly as he detailed it to the room of party faithful on Sunday.

“The other day Amy and I were working down to Porgie & Mr Jones (cafe) and a very nice lady, in her 70s, came up to me and said, ‘Josh, I’m voting for you’,” Mr Frydenberg said at the event.

“I said, ‘That’s very nice for you.’ And she goes, ‘I’m Monique Ryan’s mother-in-law’.

“I said: ‘Why are you voting for me?’ She said: ‘Because you know what you’re doing and you’re a nice person.’ I said: ‘Thank you very much’.”

Mr Frydenberg on Monday told NCA NewsWire: “This is word for word what she said.”

Monique Ryan has disputed Josh Frydenberg’s version of events. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Dr Ryan didn’t elaborate on exactly how Mr Frydenberg had misquoted her mother-in-law.

“She did say that she was intending to vote for him but she does not recall the rest of that conversation,” Dr Ryan told the ABC.

“I don’t see why the Treasurer feels it’s appropriate to bring other family members into political discourse.”

She said Mr Frydenberg had also told the story at a private function on the night he chose to snub a local candidates’ forum.

“My mother-in-law is not a part of this campaign,” Dr Ryan said.

“She is not someone who should be made fun of at Liberal Party events, which Mr Frydenberg has done twice in the last week. Where does this end?”

Josh Frydenberg has been adamant that his story is accurate. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Frydenberg defended his decision not to attend the local candidates’ forum organised by a climate activist by saying it amounted to nothing more than a “campaign rally” for his opponents.

Dr Ryan on Monday said she had been extremely clear about who she would lend her support to if she is elected to a hung parliament.

“I would support whichever of the major parties was willing to come to the table on what the people of Kooyong want,” she said

“Which is effective action on climate change in the next 10 to 15 years and a strong federal (Independent Commission Against Corruption).”

Mr Frydenberg, who holds Kooyong on a 6.4 per cent margin, has conceded the May 21 election will be a tight contest.

Originally published as Josh Frydenberg sticks by story in Kooyong election contest