Climate 200 candidate Allegra Spender’s robotext omits key election issues

Wentworth Climate 200 candidate Allegra Spender has enlisted a robot’s help to spruik her policy platform, but the texts it can’t respond to are revealing.

Infrastructure, agriculture and roads appear unimportant to Allegra Spender as she omitted the key issues from a text blast to Wentworth voters spruiking her policy platform.

The campaign behind the Climate-200 backed independent candidate has been sending automated messages asking voters to respond with an “issue” like “climate” or the “economy” and an artificial intelligence bot will return with information about Ms Spender’s stance on that particular policy.

But try to ask about “roads” or “infrastructure” and a voter gets the automated reply: “Give it another go. Ensure words are spelt correctly and keep it to 1 or 2 words: like ‘independents’, ‘refugees’, ‘women’, ‘LGBTQI+’, ‘health, or ‘education’.”

When asked for Ms Spender’s policy on “agriculture”, the so-called “Teal” candidate’s auto text responds with a lengthy response on diversity, the importance of multiculturalism and helping people with a disability.

“Valuing diversity is the cornerstone of a successful, prosperous and inclusive multi­cultural nation,” the text said in response to a request for information on “agriculture”.

Allegra Spender’s text messages had nothing to offer voters interested in infrastructure and roads. Picture: Supplied

“I have more detailed policies in these areas. If you’d like to read them, text back ‘LGBTQI,’ ‘indigenous Australians,’ ‘Refugees’ or ‘NDIS’.”

One voter asked about “infrastructure” and the automated text reply was “enter another phrase, like ‘independents’, ‘refugees,’ ‘women’,” among other policies.

When asked on her stance on China, the bot replied: “Australia should remain committed to engaging with China, while never compromising on our core values.

“Australian diplomatic efforts should focus on areas of co-operation with China and our Indo-Pacific neighbours, to build long-term stability in the region.”

Liberal Senator Hollie ­Hughes said only Coalition MP Dave Sharma could deliver for Wentworth on a broad range of issues.

Nor could it answer questions about agriculture. Picture: Supplied

Spender is one of a number of candidates backed by Simon Holmes a Court’s climate fund. Picture: Renee Nowytarger / Wentworth Courier

“National security, infrastructure, roads – these are all significant issues affecting the future of our country and today, Allegra Spender has confirmed she is unable to represent the people of Wentworth on any of them,” she said.

“This is the problem with ­independents, they can only ­represent a very narrow selection of issues and can’t deliver on the big things that matter in the electorates they seek to ­represent.”

A spokesman for Ms Spender’s campaign said there were “41 responses” programmed into the text service, “including three about national security”.

“We used hundreds of keywords, which led to thousands of voters in the electorate receiving information about (Ms Spender’s) policies,” he said.

“If anyone has any questions about (Ms Spender’s) policies, they can go to my detailed website or email me to receive a prompt response.”

Originally published as Climate 200 candidate Allegra Spender’s robotext omits key election issues