This was published 8 years ago
Election 2016: Angry Tony Windsor claims Nationals ad implies he has a mistress
By Nicole Hasham
Rancour in the fight for New England has plumbed new depths after independent challenger Tony Windsor claimed a Nationals television ad implies he cheated on his wife.
Mr Windsor demanded the withdrawal of the "offensive gutter ad" which he said left his wife Lyn "deeply upset". He then appeared to accuse Nationals incumbent, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, and his campaign chairman, James Treloar, of their own philandering, before later walking back on that claim.
The Nationals deny Mr Windsor's interpretation of the ad and say he refused their offer of a truce on negative advertising.
The skirmish reflects the growing acrimony in the tight contest for the rural NSW seat, which a recent poll suggested will come down to the wire.
A screenshot from the Nationals ad titled 'Not this time, Tony'.Credit: YouTube
Nationals NSW state director Nathan Quigley said 800 of his party's campaign posters in the electorate, worth $7000, had been ripped down and pre-polling volunteers from both sides have reportedly been treated aggressively by rival supporters.
In the Nationals advertisement which went to air last week, two women are drinking coffee at a cafe when one purportedly receives a text message from Mr Windsor, imploring "Hey New England, how about another chance?"
Appearing unimpressed, the woman says to her friend: "He wants me to take him back".
"Well, it was ok for a time, I guess," she continues, before the friend replies "yeah, but then he ran off with Julia" – a reference to Mr Windsor's critical support for the former Gillard minority government.
Tony Windsor is hugged by his wife Lyn after announcing his decision not to contest the 2013 election.Credit: Andrew Meares
The woman says her last experience with Mr Windsor ended "badly", then texts him back to say: "Not this time, Tony".
In a statement, Mr Windsor said the advertisement implied he was having an affair and had left his wife Lyn "deeply upset".
Tony Windsor.Credit: James Brickwood
"They can throw whatever criticism at me but when it involves and upsets my family that's another matter," he said.
He called on Mr Joyce and Mr Treloar to apologise to his wife, adding "these two should be the last to raise this issue" – an apparent suggestion that those men were philanderers.
They can throw whatever criticism at me but when it involves and upsets my family that's another matter
Mr Quigley said he "would not dignify that [suggestion] with a response". A spokesman for Mr Joyce also declined to comment.
Mr Windsor later declined to elaborate on the suggestion - first saying "that'd be something for them to answer", then denying he meant to imply the men were philanderers.
The Nationals claim 800 party posters in New England had been "lost", mostly stolen. Mr Quigley also pointed to a billboard featuring Mr Joyce's face that was recently defaced with the words "the ugly truth" and "member for Rinehart" – a criticism of his friendship with billionaire mining mogul Gina Rinehart, in an electorate where mining is a highly divisive issue.
Mr Windsor said his campaign material had also been torn down and suggested the Nationals' poster claim was exaggerated.
In an earlier statement, the Nationals accused Mr Windsor of "faux outrage" over the ad, which they described as tounge-in-cheek.
"In no way does it seriously suggest that Tony Windsor is or has ever been in a romantic relationship with the character in the commercial. Any reasonable person can see that immediately," the statement said.
"The commercial ... does suggest he has been unfaithful to his electorate."
The Nationals claimed Mr Windsor "currently has five attack ads on air in New England. The Nationals have one".
They say an offer to Mr Windsor's camp "for both sides to withdraw all negative material has been declined".
On June 20, a Newspoll published in The Australian said Mr Joyce led Mr Windsor 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-candidate basis.