Labor accused of sexism over ad that says Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson is working ‘under’ Vincent Tarzia

Labor has been accused of sexism over an advertisement the Liberals claim has been aimed at degrading their female candidate for Black, Amanda Wilson.

Labor has been accused of sexism over an advertisement the Liberals say degrades their female candidate for Black, Amanda Wilson.

Senior Liberal Nicolle Flint is calling on Labor to remove the ad, which has been on display at pre-poll ahead of this weekend’s by-election.

The poster says Labor candidate Alex Dighton is “working with” Premier Peter Malinauskas, while Ms Wilson is “working under” Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia.

Ms Flint, the party’s candidate in the federal seat of Boothby, said the wording was sexist.

Labor has been accused of sexism over an advertisement the Liberals claim has been aimed at degrading their female candidate for Black, Amanda Wilson.

“The inference is clear – as a woman Labor don’t think Amanda is equal to a man, as a woman, Labor portray Amanda as ‘lesser’ than a man, and it’s not hard to see sexualised connotations as well,” she said.

“Once again, we are seeing a female Liberal candidate targeted in a by-election. It was only months ago in the Dunstan by-election, where another professional and highly credentialed female candidate was relentlessly attacked by Labor.

“There’s no one more familiar with Labor and the left’s sexist attacks on women than me. Labor have three strategies – do it themselves, let others do their dirty work, or, refuse to condemn the perpetrators of sexist attacks.”

But Labor Party state director Aemon Bourke said the ad would not be removed.

“This is a desperate attempt by the Liberals to distract from their blatant misuse of taxpayer’s money to pay for political polling and robocalls, and Vincent Tarzia’s lies about taxes, which have been called out by the independent Electoral Commissioner,” he said.

“Voters in Black have a clear choice — a true local in Alex Dighton who will work with the Premier, or a Liberal candidate who lives two electorates away, backed by a party that even David Speirs thinks is a shambles.”