Federal election: Gladys Liu cops bizarre election day stunt over China

A sitting MP has been labelled “the number one Chinese Communist Party-backed candidate in Australia” in an election day stunt.

One of Australia’s most outspoken Senate candidates has labelled a Liberal MP “the number one Chinese Communist Party-backed candidate in Australia” in an election day stunt.

The sitting MP, Gladys Liu, holds the Melbourne seat Chisholm by a thin 0.5 per cent margin. It is one of Labor’s top targets tonight, with candidate Carina Garland.

Drew Pavlou, who represents the small Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance party, is best known for his public protests condemning the Chinese government.

He was suspended from the University of Queensland after holding rallies against human rights abuses in China, one of which ended in violence.

Today he posted an image of three men dressed as Chinese soldiers in Chisholm, next to one of Ms Liu’s signs.

“Gladys Liu, the number one CCP-backed candidate in Australia!” he captioned it.

Gladys Liu, the Number 1 CCP backed candidate in Australia! pic.twitter.com/sEoGK152Vf

— Drew Pavlou For Senate (@DrewPavlou) May 21, 2022

It followed a similar stunt on Friday, when Mr Pavlou dressed up in soldier garb and stood next to an ad for Ms Liu on a phone box.

He told The Daily Mail that ensuring Ms Liu’s defeat was more important to him than winning the Senate seat he’s seeking in Queensland.

“The reason I’m in Melbourne a day out from the election rather than handing out in Brisbane is because I see kicking Gladys Liu out of parliament as such a high priority, potentially even more important to this country’s future than my own election,” he said.

“This is an example where country has to come first before my own political interests. I’m willing to potentially forgo political gains on my own behalf.”

(An alternative explanation might be that Mr Pavlou has no chance of actually winning a Senate seat.)

Ms Liu, meanwhile, said she was “focused on my job of delivering for the communities in Chisholm” and would not be “distracted by my opponents and their grubby tactics”.

Scott Morrison and Gladys Liu. Picture: Jason Edwards

At a press conference alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison on May 13, Ms Liu was asked whether she shared Mr Morrison’s concerns about the rise of China.

“Gladys, are you concerned? Do you share concerns about the rise of China?” a reporter asked her.

“Well the way I look at it is I have come tot he country 37 years ago, and I became an Australian citizen 30 years ago. I’ve got my children born and raised here and I understand now I’m an elected member of the parliament, my job is how to make this country a better country,” she replied.

“For anyone to suggest that Chinese-Australians are not Australians is-”

“I’m asking (whether) the rise of China, however. Are you concerned?” the reporter interjected.

“If anyone suggests that Chinese-Australians are not Australians and still have the loyalty (to China) and want to do things that are bad for Australia, I think that is offensive, divisive and un-Australian,” she continued.

That press conference was followed by a bizarre moment as a man impersonating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un gatecrashed the venue.

“The point of coming here is pretty obvious: to show my support for the communist candidate for Australia, Gladys Liu,” he told reporters.

“I support Gladys Liu, she supports Xi Jinping. If you want to support communism in Australia, vote Liberal.”

When asked to leave, he responded: “You don’t tell a supreme leader what to do.”

The same impersonator was in Chisholm today.

Campaigning in the electorate of #chisholm in the #Australian#election for the #liberial#communist candidate #gladysLiu. However not everyone understand the #satire behind it. pic.twitter.com/3BWjtkITNQ

— Kim Jong Un impersonator - Howard X (@KimJongUnDouble) May 21, 2022

Meanwhile, speaking to Sky News this morning, Ms Liu credited Mr Morrison with “saving” the country and urged voters to support him.

“We are very lucky because he has actually saved the country,” she said.

“I’m very glad to have him as the Prime Minister, and I want him to continue to be the Prime Minister.”

Originally published as Federal election: Gladys Liu cops bizarre election day stunt over China