Wentworth by-election candidate Kerryn Phelps slams email attack
WENTWORTH favourite Kerryn Phelps has responded to a HIV email hack, calling it “false” and “homophobic”.
NSW
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WENTWORTH favourite Kerryn Phelps has today responded to a HIV email hack, saying, “It’s disappointing because it’s false.”
The Independent’s response comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed that an email circulated incorrect claims that Dr Phelps had HIV and was withdrawing from the Wentworth race.
Dr Phelps said the email was a homophobic attack designed to hurt her campaign.
“Just when you think we’ve come so far in destigmatising HIV for somebody to use this as a slur in an email in a political campaign shows we’ve still got a long way to go,” Dr Phelps said.
“There’s no question there’s a homophobic element to it, but I think we need to rise above all of that and focus on the issues that are really important to this by-election and the future of Australia.”
Dr Phelps said she hoped women would not be deterred from “challenging power structures” by the email and denounced the author’s attempt to “stigmatise” HIV and AIDS — a cause she has supported in her medical career.
The email emerged earlier this week claiming Dr Phelps was withdrawing from the by-election.
“Can you divert your v0te to (Liberal candidate) Dave Sharma instead?” the email said.
“Kerryn was diagnosed with HIV yesterday so no chance she will be running for e1ection. Can you please help to remove Kerryn Phelps’s poster if you see them because we don’t have enough people to clean it up.”
Dr Phelps said she would “press on regardless of what the email says”.
“I’m accelerating the efforts over the last few days of the campaign,” she said.
Her rival, Mr Sharma, said he was “disgusted and appalled” by the “despicable” email.
“I condemn it for its smears and dishonesty,” he wrote on Twitter. “And I condemn it for its stigmatisation of people living with HIV.” The Liberal Party said it had no role in the “vile” email.
Independent candidate Licia Heath similarly denounced the email. “This standard of behaviour in Australian politics is unacceptable and must stop,” she said in a statement.
“A new generation of politician is coming and we won’t tolerate harassment and standover tactics in the political sector, or any other sector.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “That is the ugly side of Australian politics and it has no place in any contest.
The campaign is still being dominated by what Dr Phelps called Canberra’s “thought bubble” to move the Australian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the throes of a by-election campaign.
While she did not rule out supporting the move she called the announcement an attempt to secure votes in the electorate which is 12 per cent Jewish.
Mr Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, says Mr Morrison’s announcement — which would see Australia follow the United States which has already moved its embassy — has nothing to do with Saturday’s by-election.
Leaked Liberal polling suggests Mr Sharma’s primary vote could be as low as the mid-30s. The polling suggested Dr Phelps could win 55 to 45 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
John Howard is going in to bat for his party and will campaign in Double Bay on Thursday alongside Mr Sharma.
“I am genuinely concerned about the risk of a Liberal loss,” Mr Howard said.
Mr Sharma on Thursday told the Nine Network: “I think I can win, but it will be tough.”
■ Simply click on your chosen candidate’s name below or on their photograph in our interactive to find out more.
Kerryn Phelps / Dave Sharma / Tim Murray / Dominic WY Kanak / Angela Vithoulkas / Tony Robinson / Steve Georgantis / Shayne Higson / Ben Forsyth / Barry Keldoulis / Andrea Leong / Deb Boyle / Robert Callanan / Sam Gunning / Licia Heath / Kay Dunne