Dumped Lib Jessica Whelan facing suit over ‘dirt file’ claim

Labor leader Rebecca White has threatened legal action against dumped Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan.

Lyons candidate Jessica Whelan.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White has threatened legal action against dumped Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan over her claims that Ms White distributed a “dirt file” on her.

The Australian understands Ms White has threatened proceedings against Ms Whelan, who resigned as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Lyons last week over anti-Islamic social media posts, unless she withdraws the claim.

Their potential legal stoush is understood to relate to comments Ms Whelan made in a radio interview on Monday with Brian Carlton on Tasmania Talks when she ­accused the state Opposition Leader of forwarding “a dirt file” to journalists.

Ms White, who raised in state parliament anti-Islamic Facebook posts she attributed to Ms Whelan, yesterday firmly denied distributing any “dirt file”.

She confirmed she was taking legal steps.

“Jessica Whelan has made allegations against me that are patently false,” she said. “I am taking steps to ensure the record is corrected and that those statements are not repeated.”

Ms Whelan, now contesting the seat as an independent, has admitted to making Facebook posts several years ago suggesting Muslims should not come to Australia.

Yesterday, she told The Australian she was “unable to comment” on Ms White’s legal manoeuvres “while awaiting legal advice”.