Georgina Downer claims she was cyber-bullied during Mayo campaign, her parents caught in Facebook spat
GEORGINA Downer has hit out at online trolls as she sets up round two of her clash with Rebekha Sharkie — who has labelled as “offensive” Alexander Downer’s comments made on Facebook about her supporters.
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LIBERAL candidate Georgina Downer has hit out at online trolls as she sets up round two of her clash with Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie.
It comes as her parents were embroiled in an online spat on a Facebook page.
Ms Downer will on Monday seek preselection to take the federal electorate of Mayo from Ms Sharkie who easily reclaimed the seat she had to give up over dual citizenship.
Less than 12 hours after losing the Super Saturday by-election for Mayo, Ms Downer revealed she has left her job as Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs and will focus on the federal election.
In a sign of things to come Ms Downer raised the issue of “cyber-bullying” during the by-election campaign, less than an hour after Ms Sharkie suggested no one was “entitled” to the seat of Mayo.
Ms Downer’s comments come after her father, former Howard Government minister Alexander, and her mother Nicky become embroiled in an online spat on a local Facebook group page.
Mr Downer, who held the seat of Mayo for 24 years, said: “Sharkie supporters have brought such horrible hate to our district … you must all be new arrivals”.
Ms Downer, who said she had been “trolled” during the campaign, said cyber-bullying should not be tolerated.
“I grew up in politics, I understand what it takes. It is not easy,” Ms Downer said.
“(But) I would call upon all candidates and all politicians whenever there are signs of supporters bullying people, particularly online, and we have seen instances of cyber-bullying, I call on all politicians to condemn their supporters if they engage in that sort of bullying.”
Ms Sharkie defended her supporters, adding Mr Downer’s newcomers-to-the-Hills comment “was pretty offensive to a lot of people”.
“I had a terrific group of supporters who are wonderful, warm, caring people,” she said.
“If they were horrible people, I would not be standing here today.
“I just don’t buy into this whole hierarchy entitlement.
“Whether you have lived here two years or 20 years, it is about how you are caring and loving your community.”
Ms Sharkie managed a 3.14 per cent swing, from the 2016 federal election, to secure 58.11 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, compared to Ms Downer’s 41.89 per cent.
Figures from the Australian Electoral Commission show that Ms Sharkie secured swings above 5 per cent in 20 booths across the electorate.
In her home town of Mount Torrens, the swing was 11.53 per cent and at Port Elliot, at the other end of Mayo, it was 11.32 per cent.