Electoral Commissioner forces Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia to remove “Lettuce Tax” posts deeming them misleading

The State Liberal Party has once again breached the Electoral Act with the Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia forced to remove a series of “misleading” posts from his social media accounts.

The state Liberal Party has been accused of lying to voters after Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia was forced to delete a series of misleading posts from social media by the Electoral Commissioner.

An October 1 post by Mr Tarzia on Facebook and X, claimed the state government had “slugged” SA food producers with a “lettuce tax” which would drive up the cost of food.

The Electoral Commissioner undertook an investigation after a complaint was made by the government, deeming the posts inaccurate, misleading and in breach of section 113 of the Electoral Act – thereby forcing Mr Tarzia to remove the material.

The Electoral Commissioner found Vincent Tarzia and the SA Liberals breached the Electoral Act. Picture: Facebook

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia removed the posts from his social media accounts as requested by the Electoral Commisioner: Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

But Mr Tarzia stood by his posts, claiming they were made in response to a discussion paper that was sent to the food industry by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), suggesting the introduction of a new food safety accreditation, costing growers $441 up front and $388 per annum.

“The Liberals make no apologies for standing with our primary producers in a time of need,” he said.

“These additional costs would not only impact our growers but increase the cost of food for South Australians in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“Instead of focusing on social media posts, this government needs to focus on those who put food on the plates of South Australians and rule out increasing fees for our farmers.”

However, a government spokesperson reiterated that there had been no change to the food safety accreditation fees which is why the Electoral Commissioner deemed the posts as misleading, ordering their removal.

It is the second time the state Liberal Party has come under fire for breaching the act, having to post an apology after it claimed the Labor government was “set to introduce a new GP Patient Tax” during the Dunstan by-election.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the Liberals had been caught “lying red-handed by the independent umpire”.

“In the midst of a by-election, it is outrageous that the Liberals are spreading lies in the community,” he said.

“And worst of all, they are repeat offenders, having been caught lying during the Dunstan by-election.”

Speaking in September and responding to reports of an incoming rise, AUSVEG SA chief executive Jordan Brooke-Barnett, called the potential rise in fees a “blatant revenue grab and a broken election promise.”

“In the view of AUSVEG SA … (the fees) do nothing to improve food safety because growers already have these standards in place and this fee is only to fund government bureaucrats to double-check the certification which is already maintained to some of the most stringent global standards,” he said.

It comes as both parties enter the final week of a by-election for the seat of Black, previously held by David Speirs.