Conservative group Advance Australia in Manly to counteract left wing group GetUp

Conservative lobbyists — and a masked mystery man — were in Manly today to counteract left wing group GetUp, who want to oust MP Tony Abbott from his Warringah seat at the upcoming Federal Election.

Anti GetUp group Advance Australia launch a satirical mascot at Manly Wharf in the run up to the federal election. Picture: Robbie Patterson.

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A conservative lobby group was in Manly today to counteract a left wing campaign to oust Liberal MP Tony Abbott from his Warringah seat at the upcoming elections.

Gerard Benedet, the national director of Advance Australia, said Mr Abbott should be defended against the lies being peddled by GetUp.

Warringah’s independent candidate Zali Steggall. Picture: Troy Snook.

This morning the satorical political mascot Captain GetUp was at Manly Wharf giving out leaflets and talking to people about the motivations behind the left wing group supporting independent candidate Zali Steggall.

Ms Steggall has said she has no association with the group GetUp.

The flyers have pictures of Captain GetUp with quotes such as: “This election my Labor mates and I are supporting Zali Steggall.

“We need her in parliament to vote the way we tell her.”

In a section about what GetUp is about it states: “We campaign about non-issues that fracture

and divide Australians because only our beliefs are good for Australia.”

Mr Benedet said GetUp was set up 14 years ago by Labor, The Greens and the unions and had a hidden agenda.

“We have to raise awareness of their activities,” he said.

Tony Abbott cutting a ribbon to Brookvale campaign office launch. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

He said people should question Ms Steggall’s claim that she was a Liberal voter, because she had admitted she had never voted for Liberal Mr Abbott.

He said GetUp was behind independent Kerryn Phelps’ 2018 Wentworth by-election win.

Mr Benedet said Advance Australia, which has 29,000 supporters and believes in mainstream values, freedom of speech, fighting political correctness and economic opportunity, launched four month ago.

GetUp, which has more than a million supporters has named Warringah as one of its main target areas in the election.