Australian Federal Police to investigate fake election-day texts to voters saying PM planned to privatise the service
THOUSANDS of fake election-day text messages to voters, purporting to be from Medicare and saying that the PM was planning to privatise it, will be investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
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THOUSANDS of fake election-day text messages to voters, purporting to be from Medicare and saying that the PM was planning to privatise it, will be investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
The messages, from an account sender “Medicare”, said: “Mr Turnbull’s plans to privatise Medicare will take us down the road of no return. Time is running out to save Medicare.”
The Department of Human Services, responsible for Medicare, confirmed it had not sent the messages.
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Labor’s Queensland branch said it had sent the messages but that it had not intended to make them appear to have come from Medicare.
In his election-night address, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: “The Labor Party ran some of the most systematic, well-funded lies ever peddled in Australia.
“The massed ranks of the union movement and all of their millions of dollars, telling vulnerable Australians that Medicare was going to be privatised or sold, frightening people in their bed.
“Even as voters went to the polls … there were text messages being sent to thousands of people across Australia saying that Medicare was about to be privatised by the Liberal Party.
“The SMS message ... said it came from Medicare. An extraordinary act of dishonesty. No doubt the police will investigate ... regrettably more than a few people were misled, there’s no doubt about that.”
The AFP yesterday confirmed it had received a complaint about the messages.
“The Australian Federal Police can confirm it received a referral on Saturday in relation to the receipt of text messages allegedly sent from Medicare,” a police spokesman said.
“This matter is now being evaluated and whilst this occurs it would not be appropriate to further comment.”
The so-called “Mediscare” formed a central part of Labor’s election pitch in the closing weeks of the campaign, and had been described by the Coalition as being without any foundation.
On multiple occasions Opposition Leader Bill Shorten refused to offer any evidence that the Coalition was planning to privatise Medicare and Mr Turnbull repeatedly vowed to retain it as a public service.
Labor opposed any extension to a freeze on Medicare rebates and cuts to bulk-billing incentives.
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