Candidates take aim at Groom MPs bulk text message

The Liberal-National Party appears to be concerned about what was once one of the safest seats in the country, sending unsolicited text messages in what has been labelled a "scare campaign" against rising community independents.

Groom candidates Suzie Holt, Garth Hamilton and Kirstie Smolenski.

A bulk text message sent by the Liberal-National Party to Groom voters has united the region’s independent candidates, who slammed the tactic as an invasion of privacy and grossly disrespectful.

In a sign incumbent member Garth Hamilton and the LNP are growing increasingly concerned about the safe seat of Groom, the texts come after widespread letterbox drops and corflutes attacking community independent candidates.

The text message claimed a vote for a teal or “community independent” was a vote for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Greens.

“Teals vote far more often with the Greens (73%) than the LNP (33%) according to parliament’s official records,” it read.

The LNP sent text messages to voters' personal phone numbers attacking the independents running in Groom.

“Teals have pushed for a range of higher taxes, which would be a disaster in a cost of living crisis. They are bankrolled by wealthy donors in Sydney and Melbourne.

“The Toowoomba region can’t afford the higher taxes and economic uncertainty that comes with more Greens and Teals in the parliament.”

Both independent candidates for Groom took aim at the message.

“The LNP are treating voters like fools,” Kirstie Smolenski said.

“It is grossly disrespectful and voters are sick to death of the negative campaigning.

“The text says nothing about the LNP policy or why voters would vote for them.

“Not only are the texts annoying, they are being told more untruths.

“It shows the LNP is running scared.”

A social media poll by The Chronicle showed more than 95 per cent of people believed unsolicited political text messages should be made illegal.

Suzie Holt said her campaign made a commitment at the last election to not use bulk text messages because she viewed them as a breach of privacy.

“This is a huge scare campaign,” she said.

“The local member is referring to how I have voted but I am yet to be in the parliament.

“I will always put the community first, the community will drive policy, it will be front and centre.

The LNP text messages appeared a few days after Groom MP Garth Hamilton placed new corflutes attack Suzie Holt. (photo: supplied)

“He has only a 74 per cent attendance rate in parliament and the Groom community deserves someone who will truly represent the electorate and be in Canberra and do the job.

“I am running on a platform to lower taxes.

“I support the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia tax reform policy, I will go in hard on incentives for small business, addressing bracket creep, increasing instant asset write-offs and making tax simpler.”

Garth Hamilton’s team refused to say how it got access to voters’ private contact details.

Instead, a spokeswoman for Mr Hamilton said the campaign used a variety of methods to communicate with voters.

“As previously stated – you may not agree with Garth on all issues. But at least you know where he stands because he doesn’t shy away from the big issues,” she said.

“Voters should be aware of the voting record of the Climate 200 Teals, and their frequent support of the Greens.

The spokeswoman alleged “teals” engaged UComms to conduct polling for Groom thought text messages – which Ms Holt denied having anything to do with.

A Climate 200 spokesman said the organisation did conduct text message polling for Groom.