NSW Labor deputy and Salim Mehajer dragged into dirty tricks
ACCUSATIONS of dirty tricks were flying thick and fast as voters dragged their heels to polling stations in low numbers.
NSW
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AS millions of voters were reluctantly dragged to the polls to elect 46 councils today, accusations of dirty tricks were flying thick and fast.
On the Central Coast, many residents in the Wyong ward received robo-text messages from the “NRMAA” encouraging them to vote for former Wyong mayor and now independent candidate Doug Eaton if they wanted “better local roads”.
The NRMA quickly distanced itself from the texts, saying it does not support any political candidates because “we are an independent organisation”.
The text read: “For a funded plan for better local roads Vote EATON. To opt-out message STOP to 6145801430.”
The attached phone number is disconnected.
Mr Doug Eaton has campaigned heavily on fixing local roads.
He did not respond to requests for comment but NewsLocal’s Central Coast Advocate reported Mr Eaton allegedly told voters he had engaged a company called National Retail Marketers Association of Australia — NRMAA — to do his marketing.
Voter apathy and poor government advertising are being blamed for a low voter turnout.
Both major parties have reported a lack of voters at booths in Randwick and the Inner West.
With only 46 of 78 councils going to the polls, NSW Labor General Secretary Kaila Murnain said the elections would have flown under many people’s radar.
“Traditionally this low voter turnout works against progressive parties, which are more likely to attract the votes of shift and weekend workers,” she said.
“In one Randwick booth, where we were expecting 1500-1700 people, at 5.30pm we only had 1100.”
Ms Murnain said a lack of government advertising could also be part of the problem.
A Liberal source said while they had also seen lower voter turnout, high pre-poll numbers may balance the lower turnout on the day.
The NSW Electoral Commission said it was too early to tell.
Meanwhile, state Labor deputy leader Michael Daley has been accused of using his parliamentary printing budget to help one of his staff get elected to Randwick Council.
Mr Daley, the MP for Maroubra, sent a letter to his electorate earlier this week calling on residents to “send the Liberals a message to stop overdevelopment”.
Mr Daley’s staffer Dylan Parker is the lead Labor candidate in the Randwick Council Central Ward.
Randwick Deputy Mayor and Liberal Party member Brendan Roberts said while the letter was legal, it “does not pass the pub test”.
“It is clearly inappropriate and disappointing, yet hardly surprising, that Michael Daley has written to his constituents using taxpayer funds to advocate on behalf of his staff member who is running in the local election,” Mr Roberts said.
“It is an attempt to influence the local election using a MP’s budget.
“The fact that he doesn’t mention the local elections will mean he will get away with it but people are smarter than that.”
Asked what he meant when he said people should “send the Liberals a message”, Mr Daley said it is “meant in the context of signing a petition”.
“It has got nothing to do with the local elections,” Mr Daley said.
“I do not stop working just because there is an election. The letter was approved by the clerks of the parliament before we sent it.”
Mr Daley said he has sent many letters this year about overdevelopment.
At nearby Bayside Council, Heffron State Labor MP Ron Hoenig also sent a letter to constituents, this time offering an explicit endorsement of local candidate Alexandra Luxford.
Mr Hoenig also warned of overdevelopment and traffic congestion.
Speaking in Ryde earlier today, NSW Labor opposition leader Luke Foley said the Liberals are nowhere to be seen.
“The state government has gone missing, they are in hiding,” he said.
“In Sydney, the Illawarra, and in country NSW you can’t find a member of the state government despite their best efforts over the past couple of years to force mergers.
“The state government’s refusal to ban property developers means many councils will see the election of self-interested developers and real estate agents.
“And all these Liberals are suddenly independent in so many council areas.”
In Cumberland Council, signs around the Regents Park Ward have been urging Chinese-speaking voters to be mindful of the links between Ned Attie and former Auburn Council deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.
The sign urges voters to put the Liberals last, whose candidates include Ned Attie and Jonathan Huang.
“Apart from the polling booths I have not seen any sign with just Ned Attie, but there are literally hundreds of Jonathan Huang signs,” local independent candidate Irene Simms said.
“It is interesting that the Liberals have not made many signs for Ned Attie.”
Mr Attie has not responded to requests for comment.
The Public Inquiry into Auburn Council heard evidence former Auburn councillor Ned Attie was part of a voting block known as the “super six”.
That block included Ronney Oueik, Le Lam, Hicham Zraika, Ned Attie, Steve Yang and Salim Mehajer.
In Hornsby, former Howard government minister Philip Ruddock said there has been no funny business among fellow candidates in the mayoral race.
“I have a very civilised relationship with the other candidates,” the 74-year-old said.
Mr Ruddock said he was pleased to be at $1.10 odds to become mayor.
Mr Ruddock was the federal member for Berowra from 1973-2016.
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