Josh Frydenberg’s extraordinary attack on ‘fake independents’

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has launched an attack on ‘fake independents’ as he faces a tough battle in his own seat.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has launched another attack on “fake independents” accusing them of running away from scrutiny.

Under pressure in his own seat of Kooyong from Climate 200-backed Monique Ryan, Mr Frydenberg on Wednesday said Australians “need stability and strength” and called on the “fake independents” to declare who they would support in the case of a hung parliament.

Mr Frydenberg had been talking about the inflation figure on Wednesday when he launched into the attack on Dr Ryan, one of a number of candidates backed by Simon Holmes A Court standing in Liberal-held seats.

Seemingly agitated, Mr Frydenberg called the transparency of Dr Ryan into question, cautioning Kooyong voters not to vote for her.

“They (the teal independents)! are running as a political party, they have no policy details, they have no costings. It’s the vibe of the thing,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has launched an attack on ‘fake independents’. Photo: Luis Enrique Ascui

“They are a slogan and a billboard, and nothing more.”

Mr Frydenberg said while he was out “subjecting (himself) to scrutiny every single day”, Dr Ryan was not.

“These fake independents are not,” he said.

“And they are asking a hundred thousand-plus people in the electorate of Kooyong to take them as they say they are.

“With no detail, with no transparency, with no accountability, and with no integrity, around the issues that are important; they won’t reveal their funding sources, who is really pulling the strings.

“We know who it is, yet they will not say so.”

Dr Monique Ryan who is running as an independent for the seat of Kooyong. Photo: Ian Currie

Given both the coalition and the Labor Party are facing a potential hung parliament given the number of Australians indicating they are considering supporting a minor party or an independent, Mr Frydenberg questioned where the teals would fall.

“Because in seats like Kooyong, we know they will vote with the Labor Party, but they know the people of Kooyong don’t want them to vote with the Labor Party,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Got a story tip? Email us at [e-mail]

Know some goss or seen something in your electorate? Contact us at [e-mail]

Originally published as Josh Frydenberg’s extraordinary attack on ‘fake independents’