Federal election 2022: Fiona Martin appears to mix up Sally Sitou, Tu Le

An incumbent Liberal MP has appeared to confuse her Labor opponent with another Asian-Australian political hopeful, prompting calls for an apology and clarification.

The incumbent Liberal MP for Reid has copped a blast from her Labor opponent for appearing to confuse her rival with a former pre-selection candidate in the seat of Fowler during a 2GB radio debate.

This morning, Dr Fiona Martin suggested her Labor opponent Sally Sitou had only run in Reid after trying and failing to gain the candidacy in Fowler, seemingly mistaking Ms Sitou with Tu Le.

Ms Le is of Vietnamese heritage and was blocked from running in Fowler after the Labor leadership parachuted in Kristina Kenneally to contest the seat.

“You found an opportunity and you couldn’t run in Fowler,” Ms Martin said on the show.

“Kristina Keneally kicked you out of Fowler too.”

Incumbent Liberal MP for Reid Fiona Martin. Picture: Gary Ramage

Ms Sitou appeared visibly shocked and taken aback, before confusion at the claim turned to anger, denying that she had contested to run anywhere other than Reid, the electorate she lives in with her husband and son.

“I understand that people make mistakes in the high-pressure environment of an election campaign,” Ms Sitou said.

Sally Sitou, Labor’s candidate in Reid. Picture: Richard Dobson

Tu Le contested the Labor pre-selection for the seat of Fowler. Picture: Ryan Osland

“All I’m asking is that Ms Martin simply admit to her mistake and apologise.”

When Ms Martin’s camp was asked about the issue, they said Fiona was referring to previous reporting in The Sydney Morning Herald that Ms Sitou was in the running for the state seat of Cabramatta in 2018.

Labor deputy Richard Marles rubbished this and the claims Ms Sitou had ever looked to contest any seat other than Reid.

“Now I don’t know what’s going on with Fiona Martin, but Sally has only ever contested or tried to contest the seat of Reid,” he said.

“Fiona needs to explain herself.”