Liberal candidate Dave Sharma targeted by white supremacists

A rambling racist email inciting voters in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to revolt against “white government” and install Liberal candidate Dave Sharma is suspected to be the work of white supremacists. READ THE EMAIL

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A rambling racist email inciting voters in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to revolt against “white government” and install Liberal candidate Dave Sharma is suspected to be the work of white supremacists.

After vilifying a host of races and religions, an email sent to Wentworth voters goes on to suggest Liberal candidate Dave Sharma will “purge the child molesting white Aussie government” because he is the son of an Indian migrant.

The email strongly backs Mr Sharma, although he suspects it is actually the work of neo-Nazis attempting to make him the target of xenophobia.

Liberal Candidate for the seat of Wentworth Dave Sharma. Picture: John Appleyard

“It’s got all the signatures of a far-right extremist group,” Mr Sharma said.

“It’s just despicable dog whistling and outright slander, which is also directed at me.”

The disjointed email levels outlandish accusations at everyone from former prime minister John Howard to the founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and Melbourne underworld barrister turned police informant Nicola Gobbo.

The author, who claims to be “Joyce Carter”, calls Mr Sharma “our saviour” because he can end a supposed global scourge of child molestation.

Mr Sharma talking to locals Miriam Chemler, Hugo Ward, four, and Alexis Chemler, two at Bondi Beach this week. Picture: Adam Yip

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Homophobic slurs about the spread of AIDS mirror false allegations in another fake email sent during last year’s by-election, which claimed independent parliamentarian Dr Kerryn Phelps had pulled out of the race because she had HIV and also backed Mr Sharma.

“Whoever is behind this is stoking social and racial divisions in society and pretending to be informing people about candidates,” Mr Sharma said.

“They are trying to expose fault lines in society and cleave into them.”

The Australian Federal Police have discussed the email with Mr Sharma but no further action will be taken, according to an AFP spokeswoman.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR HUSAR

Dumped Labor MP Emma Husar has given her party a helping hand by heading off on holiday on the very day the election was called.

Dumped Labor MP Emma Husar heading off on holiday on the very day the election was called.

Husar, who was forced out of politics by the Labor Party after a series of bullying allegations — which she has denied — could have caused a huge headache for the ALP by running as an independent in the marginal seat.

She posted a photo of herself walking into an airport terminal on Thursday with the words: “Don’t know when I’ll be back again.”

But The Sauce understands Husar, who is believed to be in Tasmania, might get her revenge, with rumours she’s penning a book about her three years in Canberra.

That’s bound to unsettle many of her colleagues.

Husar’s departure has also buoyed the Liberal Party, with some believing her old electorate of Lindsay will be the party’s best chance of picking up a seat in NSW.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

It’s the most reliable indicator of a forthcoming election — the mad rush to appoint friends to boards before the party is over.

This week was no exception, with federal government ministers doling out dozens of taxpayer-funded jobs, including to former Coalition MPs, party officials and staffers.

Liberal Party president Richard Alston will join the National Gallery of Australia. Picture: Sean Davey.

Among those now adding a new line to their resume is Ewen Jones, the ex-Queensland MP who will spend the next three years on the board of the National Film and Sound Archive. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield dutifully spruiked Jones’s appointment, noting he was “an auctioneer by trade” with experience in real estate. What could possibly go wrong?

News that Liberal Party president Richard Alston would join the National Gallery of Australia council raised the eyebrows in Canberra’s arts community, while former Liberal staffers Malcolm Roberts and Philip Lindsay will put in the hard yards for the Productivity Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, respectively.

If The Sauce has any advice for new appointees, it would be to save that first pay cheque as Labor is unlikely to stick with the Liberal Party’s choices if it wins the election next month.

INSIDE THE INSIDERS

Within the political bubble, fans of the ABC’s Insiders program are furiously gossiping about who will replace the show’s stalwart Barrie Cassidy when he steps down after the election.

Radio National breakfast host Fran Kelly.

Insiders host Barrie Cassidy.

The Sauce understands Radio National host Fran Kelly is the frontrunner ahead of her colleague and fellow presenter Hamish Macdonald. A recent guest hosting gig by ABC News Breakfast’s Michael Rowland set tongues wagging that the well-respected morning TV host could be about to jump to the weekend slot. But his departure would be a huge loss for News Breakfast, which recently nudged ahead of Nine’s struggling Today to became the second most-watched breakfast TV program.

Barrie’s role isn’t the only good gig up for grabs, with the public broadcaster also in the hunt for a host for Q&A, Four Corners and Melbourne ABC 774’s morning radio show.

Additional reporting by Jack Morphet

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