Voices of Groom pick Suzie Holt takes aim at Senator Matt Canavan over ‘defamatory’ comments

High-profile Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has been put on legal notice by an independent candidate claiming remarks he made on social media about her were false and defamatory.

High-profile Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has been put on legal notice by an independent candidate who claims remarks he made on social media about her were false and defamatory.

The online tit-for-tat between independent candidate for Groom Suzie Holt and Senator Canavan stretches back to late January, after he described the “Voices of” candidates as “not authentic” and “not true locals”.

His post came in response to a Courier-Mail article outlining how Ms Holt and the Voices of Groom group that endorsed her had distanced themselves from climate protest group Extinction Rebellion despite previous statements.

Ms Holt, lashing out at Senator Canavan on social media, said he had “shown a complete lack of spine” and “an absence of integrity”.

She also took aim at Groom MP Garth Hamilton, who has in turn waved off the criticism.

In a letter addressed to Senator Canavan and posted to social media, Ms Holt said the Senator had seven days — the deadline of which was February 15 — to remove the comments, apologise, and cease from making disparaging remarks about her again.

Senator Canavan’s post, in which he also said “Voices of” candidates were being funded by “outside, cashed up, radical activists”, remains online despite Ms Holt’s warning.

Ms Holt said it was “factually incorrect” that she was not a local considering she has lived in Toowoomba since 1993.

She said she had “not accepted any donations from anyone living outside our electorate” with the exception of a former Groom LNP branch chair who now resided partly on the Sunshine Coast.

On Extinction Rebellion, Ms Holt said she had “met with a wide range of people from all parts of the political spectrum including a member of Extinction Rebellion, as well as One Nation, Labor and LNP party members to ensure I understand the issues for the people of Groom”.

“You have sought to defame my character by suggesting I am not local, I am funded by leftist groups outside the Groom electorate and I have an ongoing association with a far left group,” Ms Holt stated in the letter.

Senator Matt Canavan in the Senate Chamber in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The impact of these statements on my character is in the hope of misleading voters in relation to my strong liberal views.”

Senator Canavan said Ms Holt had “clearly misquoted” him on a number of occasions.

“I therefore reject her accusations,” he said.

Ms Holt also called on Groom MP Garth Hamilton to “disassociate himself” from Senator Canavan.

Mr Hamilton, who holds Queensland’s second safest seat with a margin of 17.2 per cent, said he was “proud to work beside” Senator Canavan who had “runs on the board representing” Queensland.

“While this Voices of Groom candidate is busy picking fights on Twitter over comments she very clearly made, we’re both getting on with the job,” he said.

“However, I will say this Voices of candidate can invoke the names of Liberal MPs and our party all she likes, but she has shown she is in fundamental opposition to our key values.

“What Liberal would welcome far left Extinction Rebellion activists into their homes? Especially given the history of these groups targeting our region’s farmers?”