Kerryn Phelps slams election dirty tricks as key Wentworth battle gets nastier`

The battle for Wentworth has turned bitter, with a vicious smear campaign unleashed and allegations of theft. Now the cops have been called in.

The election battleground in Wentworth is turning increasingly bitter, candidates claim.

Kerryn Phelps, who narrowly won the normally safe Liberal seat at last year’s by-election in the wake of Malcolm Turnbull’s exit from politics, claims dirty tricks are at play.

The independent candidate, who hopes to win her second major campaign for the seat in seven months, said a “disturbing” email had been sent to a large number of voters in the inner-Sydney area slandering her.

News.com.au has seen the email but chosen not to publish its contents. Dr Phelps confirmed she had referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.

“It’s homophobic, anti-Semitic, racist and just generally pretty disgusting,” she said.

The email is similar in tone and style to one sent widely during the by-election, which made a number of vile claims about Dr Phelps.

“The content of this one is very disturbing. We’ve asked the AFP to look into it again. They couldn’t get to the bottom of the last one. This one is a step up in terms of content from the previous one. I hope they take it very seriously and find out who’s doing it.”

A person pictured removing a Kerryn Phelps poster in the Wentworth electorate.

Labor's Tim Murray shared this photo during the by-election campaign.

In addition to the email, Dr Phelps claims 80 per cent of her election signs have been torn down from poles across Wentworth.

“It’s hundreds of them,” she said.

“There’s a systematic, concerted plan to remove opponent posters. We would never do such a thing. It tends to come down to one party’s posters remaining up, or going up in the spot that’s suddenly vacant.”

RELATED: Stay up to date with what matters on our federal election page

Kerryn Phelps has spoken about the dirty political tricks at play in the Wentworth election battleground. Picture: Kym Smith

She said it mirrors her experience during the by-election when a number of signs were removed, damaged or destroyed, but she said the attack had ramped up this time around.

Labor candidate Tim Murray also spoke out about the apparent efforts to remove his posters in the by-election.

Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, also running again after his narrow defeat in the by-election, told news.com.au that a number of his posters had been removed or defaced also.

“I’ve had quite a few signs taken down,” Mr Sharma said.

“My experience unfortunately is that it just tends to happen in campaigns. I don’t rush to point the finger at people and say ‘my opponent must be responsible’.

“It’s not insignificant. More and more go down each week. I’ve had quite a few defaced. Just overnight at Bronte quite a few were defaced. We don’t know by whom.

“It’s disappointing that it happens but I don’t think it’s a widespread issue and I don’t think it’s a widespread issue for my opponents either.”

Up to their dirty tricks again. Hundreds of our posters were stolen withinin a week of them being put up around the electorate. @LiberalAus posters strangely remain in place. Desperate tactics.
Here we go again.#WentworthVotes#auspol19

— 💧Prof Kerryn Phelps AM MP (@drkerrynphelps) April 12, 2019

He categorically denied his campaign was in any way involved in the removal and said people should not interfere with the political process.

“I would say though that an opponent shared a picture of someone taking down a sign who it turned out was a volunteer putting it up,” he said.

Dr Phelps re-shared an image on Twitter of a man appearing to be taking down one of her posters, but later clarified that the individual was in fact putting it up.

A Twitter post showing a widely shared image was not what it seemed.

Mr Sharma said he believed any instances of tampering with signs was down to “individuals with a grievance”.

“I think it’s the same with these hate emails going around,” Mr Sharma said.

“They feel kind of like white nationalist dog whistling attacking all sorts of minorities. I don’t know who’s responsible for them. I’ve seen a few. They’re just literate. It’s ridiculous, paranoid assertions.

“It’s unfortunate it exists. We should report them to the police but we shouldn’t give these people more oxygen than they deserve. It’s what they want — a platform.”

Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma has denied any knowledge of the removal of Kerryn Phelps’ posters. Picture: AAP

Kerryn Phelps was elected in the normally safe Liberal seat of Wentworth at the by-election last year after Malcolm Turnbull’s ousting. Picture: AAP

Having been in the public spotlight for decades, as president of the Australian Medical Association and in her capacity as a television host and commentator, Dr Phelps is used to copping unwarranted or unfair criticism.

“There are still times when I get angry about some of the things that are said, particularly the things that are untrue,” she said.

“But I can’t afford to let it affect my pace. I’ve got to keep on with a steady pace and articulate policy and keep to the issues that matter to this community.

“I’m trying to stay away from the nonsense.”

After the narrow loss last year, Dave Sharma is running in Wentworth again for the Liberal Party. Picture: AAP