Election 2022: Labor’s candidate Alex Dighton slammed over use of Sacred Heart College information

A former teacher at one of Adelaide’s leading colleges has been accused of “dirty tricks” after allegedly sending election material to parents in his role as a Labor candidate.

One of Adelaide’s leading colleges has become embroiled in a political row over “dirty tricks” of a former teacher and Labor candidate for his campaign.

Sacred Heart College’s head of senior campus, Alex Dighton, 43, is contesting the seat of Black, in Adelaide’s southwest, against Liberal incumbent, David Speirs, 37.

Mr Dighton, of Hallett Cove, was a teacher for more than a decade, holding various leadership roles at Catholic co-Educational school for Years 7–12.

But the teacher, who has taken unpaid leave, has come under fire over how he came to send election material to old scholars and households linked to the school.

Parents complained to the school about how they, and their children, received unsolicited letters and phone calls.

Labor's candidate for the seat of Black, Alex Dighton with opposition leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Supplied

Old scholars also told how they suddenly received Labor party material despite not being in touch with the candidate for years.

Their families also told how relatives, with no known links, were also randomly contacted.

Treasurer Rob Lucas labelled the “dirty tricks … very concerning allegations” as he questioned how the Labor party knew about the recipients’ connection to Sacred Heart.

“The telephone calls and unsolicited direct mail make it clear the Labor Party are aware of the voters’ connections to the school,” he said.

Almost 28,000 electors are registered in the seat that covers Adelaide’s southwest including

Hallett Cove, Kingston Park, Marino, Seacliff, Seaview Downs, Sheidow Park, South Brighton and Trott Park.

Labor's candidate for Black Alex Dighton with wife Claire and son Albie, 3. Picture: Supplied

Sacred Heart principal Steve Byrne said the candidate had not accessed its database and had gathered the data through the electoral roll.

“As a senior leader at Sacred Heart, Alex has always conducted himself with integrity and honesty,” he said.

Mr Dighton, a father of one, did not return calls.

He told the school that he had accessed the electoral roll, in which he spent time going through identifying family, friends and other acquaintances including Sacred Heart staff and a “small number of old scholars whose names I recognised”.

Labor's candidate for Black, Alex Dighton, with party health spokesman Chris Picton. Picture: Facebook

A Labor spokeswoman denied he had acted improperly.

“Like all good teachers, (he) remembers his former students and their families,” she said.

“He reached out to many of them after the announcement of his candidacy.

“Since then, he has received positive feedback from those who remember him fondly from their former school years and as their childrens’ former teacher.”

Mr Speirs, the current Environment Minister, holds the seat by a two-party preferred margin of 8.7 per cent. He declined to comment.