GetUp’s attack on Tony Abbott was a low act
GetUp is the lowest, most obnoxious organisation in Australia. Its raison d’etre is to destroy talented politicians who hold different views to those of the Greens and the Labor Party. The dishonest, vicious attacks go completely against our open Australian character and, for decent people, GetUp creates a miasma of bad taste.
Tony Abbott, a politician of impeccable credentials, is the most recent recipient of their venom. GetUp’s claims are utterly false. Abbott fully supports the Liberal Party’s intelligent environmental scheme that will address climate change sensibly, at a measured pace so that our economy can still thrive.
As your well-penned editorial notes, GetUp’s tacky advertisement unjustifiably attacking Tony Abbott was an abysmal low in political advertising (“GetUp’s smear beyond the pale”, 25/4). With his parliamentary record, including many signature achievements, plus a body of impressive self-written speeches and articles, Abbott consistently raises the political bar.
With his other pursuits such as surf lifesaving, firefighting and the Pollie Pedal bike ride to raise money for charities, Abbott consistently sets the standard, adding value politically and personally — in stark contrast to GetUp which acts in the negative.
Why has GetUp got it in for a humble backbencher? What threat is Abbott to their organisation? Could it be his credentials in dismantling the socialist climate schemes that masquerade as environmentalism?
If you are a business, charity, association, club or political party you are subject to financial and behavioural regulations. But it seems that GetUp is a law unto themselves with no accountability whatsoever.
Who at GetUp takes responsibility for the disgusting smear campaign against Tony Abbott? GetUp’s website does not list any accountability standards. It should come clean and remove the secrecy from its operations so that it is fully transparent.
There is nothing more despicable in the public domain than to circulate untruthful personal slurs. GetUp is living up to its name in getting away with this to an alarming level. GetUp director Paul Oosting and his acolytes appear to be revelling in the mire and deserve to be treated as grubs with no redeeming features.
There appears to be no way to rein in this group now or in the future if a Labor government is elected.
At last, GetUp has been slapped down by your editorial. This subversive movement, targeting only Liberal MPs, must be investigated again by the proper authorities. With Bill Shorten on the original member’s board and its board is stacked with Laborites, this should be enough evidence to show that GetUp is a political party and should be regulated as such.
The ad depicting Tony Abbott as a lazy, uncaring, onion eating lifesaver, now withdrawn, was disgusting. Abbott should be offered an apology.
Your editorial has nailed it. Tony Abbott is a proud Australian, a devoted family man, a tireless contributor to his country and community and a conservative. His detractors are overwhelmingly self-serving, virtue-signalling hypocrites with little regard or even contempt for his real and abiding virtues. He is everything GetUp fears, and they are determined to remove him from public life.
To those on the Left who can never understand why people vote conservative, I am no great fan of Tony Abbott, but GetUp’s treatment of him is a good example. If Abbott is as toxic as GetUp says, it shouldn’t have to use such tactics to prove it.
When in February the Australian Electoral Commission ruled for the third time the GetUp group has no association with the Labor Party or the Greens and is therefore not subject to having to abide by the rules that are imposed on political parties, one can only assume GetUp has the same affiliations as the ABC.
No wonder so many of us are on anti-depressants when we have sick groups like GetUp attacking wonderful people such as lifesavers.
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