Prime Minister Scott Morrison defends Liberal MP Fiona Martin's awkward mix up

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended a Liberal MP who was accused of mixing up two Asian-Australian candidates during an interview.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended a Liberal MP after she was accused of mixing up two female Asian-Australian candidates.

Fiona Martin has come under fire after she suggested her opponent, Labor’s Sally Sitou, was run out of Cabramatta by Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally.

However, the woman who was previously said to be an alternative candidate to Ms Keneally in Fowler was Tu Le, a former Labor staffer and lawyer of Vietnamese heritage.

Ms Sitou is of Chinese heritage and was born in Australia.

Despite the backlash, Dr Martin has claimed she did not mix up the two women.

“Sally is a failed Labor candidate for Cabramatta, which is where she grew up,” she said in a statement to news.com.au.

“That is a fact which she does not dispute.”

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended a Liberal MP after she was accused of mixing up two female Asian-Australian candidates. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Morrison was asked about the situation during Thursday’s press conference in Launceston, Tasmania.

“Your colleague Fiona Martin appears to have confused Sally Sitou with another Asian Australian. Is it fair for Asian Australians to be stereotyped or generalised in this way and do you think Sitou deserves an apology?” a reporter asked.

“Dr Martin has already made statements on that issue today and no that wasn’t the case,” Mr Morrison responded.

The reporter then claimed that Dr Martin’s defence “doesn’t make sense”.

The Prime Minister stood his ground, saying, “I am sorry, I don’t accept that”.

“She has made that statement and she made that every clear,” he said.

“But (Ms Sitou) didn’t run in Cabramatta,” the reporter said.

“She made a statement and I would refer you to that statement. I think it makes it very clear,” Mr Morrison responded before moving on to the next question.

Liberal candidate Fiona Martin and Labor candidate Sally Sitou have had a fiery on-air debate. Picture: 2GB

The issue arose earlier this week during a heated clash between Dr Martin and Ms Sitou on 2GB radio.

“You found an opportunity and you couldn’t run in Fowler,’’ Dr Martin said during the interview.

“Kristina Keneally kicked you out of Fowler too.”

At this point in the interview, Ms Sitou shook her head, accusing the Liberal MP of “making stuff up”.

“Now she’s just making things up. I mean, that’s how ridiculous this debate has gotten,’’ Ms Sitou said.

“And I’m really sorry that your listeners have had to listen to that. My son goes to the local school. I’m on the P&C. He plays in a local football team. It’s a community that we love. And we are proud to be raising a family there.

“People are trying to smear me and question my loyalty to this country. I am an Australian citizen. I grew up on a diet of Home And Away and Neighbours.”

Yesterday, Ms Sitou said she was “disappointed” Dr Martin was “doubling down” on her accusations.

“Campaigns are stressful and she made a mistake. I’d just like her to apologise for mistaking me for a different person. The people of Reid deserve better than this,” she wrote on Twitter.

Ms Sitou was accused of becoming the Reid candidate after being ‘run out of Fowler’ by Kristina Keneally. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Asian-Australian candidate who lost out on preselection in the seat of Fowler was actually Tu Le (pictured). Picture: Ryan Osland

I'm disappointed that Fiona Martin is doubling down on her accusations about me. Campaigns are stressful and she made a mistake. I’d just like her to apologise for mistaking me for a different person. The people of Reid deserve better than this.

— Sally Sitou 陈莎莉 - Labor for Reid (@SallySitou) May 11, 2022

In an earlier tweet, she confirmed she had never sought to run for the seat of Fowler.

“Earlier today in a candidates’ debate, my opponent Fiona Martin accused me of having previously contested preselection in Fowler,’’ Ms Sitou said.

“I have never sought to run for Fowler. I live in Reid, my son goes to school In Reid, and I am excited by the opportunity to represent my community here in Reid.

“My opponent either has me confused for a different Asian-Australian, or she is deliberately misleading people.

“Either way, she should apologise.”