War of words erupts between Teal Allegra Spender and Liberal challenger Ro Knox
A war of words has erupted in a key election seat in Sydney’s east with Allegra Spender and Ro Knox trading threats of legal action and demands for an apology. Here’s what caused the chaos.
NSW
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A war of words has erupted in Sydney’s east with a Teal MP threatening to sue her Liberal challenger for defamation who is doubling down saying she will “not be intimidated”.
Liberal Wentworth candidate Ro Knox has reiterated her allegations that a poster promoting Wentworth MP Allegra Spender was put up on top of a poster commemorating a Jewish family that were killed by Hamas.
On Thursday, Ms Spender wrote on social media that she was considering legal action against Ms Knox over accusations her poster was plastered over a poster of the Bibas family who were abducted and killed by Hamas in Gaza.
“My poster was put up previously, clear of anything else. The volunteer who put up the poster is a Jewish Australian,” she posted on Instagram.
“The Bibas family poster was inserted later. There is time-stamped photo evidence and a statutory declaration from the volunteer to confirm this.
“I am considering legal options against the Liberal Party candidate and I ask that she unreservedly apologise. The tragic conflict overseas and suffering of communities in Australia should not be exploited for political gain.”
But on Friday, Ms Knox said she would “not be intimidated”.
“Yesterday, Allegra Spender threatened to sue me for saying that it was disappointing her team had placed her poster over the poster memorialising the Bibas family,” she wrote on Instagram.
“There is clear proof that a poster commemorating the Bibas Family was security fastened to a fence that was later covered by a Teal party poster promoting Allegra Spender.
“I am very disappointed that Ms Spender would threaten heavy handed legal action with such inflammatory language … do the right thing and apologise.”
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