GetUp’s Abbott campaign ‘despicable’

Scott Morrison has labelled GetUp “bullies”, and caned their campaign against Tony Abbott.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former PM Tony Abbott. Picture: Kym Smith

Scott Morrison has labelled GetUp a group of “bullies” and attacked its campaign against Tony Abbott in the seat of Warringah as one of the “grubbiest and most despicable things” he has witnessed during an election.

The Prime Minister launched the political assault in parliament yesterday while responding to calls from independent Zali Steggall — who defeated Mr Abbott at the May 18 election — for changes to political advertising laws.

“She would be aware that the joint standing committee on electoral matters undertakes a review of all matters in relation to the conduct of the most recent election and it will bring forward a report and that will be considered indeed by the government and the parliament,” Mr Morrison said.

He said the activities from GetUp in the “most recent election and the actions they took against the former member for Warringah” were “some of the grubbiest and some of the most despicable actions I’ve seen”.

Mr Morrison described GetUp as a “political organisation masquerading as something independent”.

“The Liberal Party and the National Party will never be intimidated by the bullying tactics and the big union money that goes into GetUp and the Labor Party,” he said.

MORE: Graham Richardson writes Thuggish GetUp losing its sheen

GetUp national director Paul Oosting hit back yesterday, arguing that Mr Morrison had attacked people who had volunteered their time to participate in democracy.

“Hundreds of local GetUp members in Warringah knocked on doors and had heart-to-heart conversations with their neighbours on the issues important to them,” Mr Oosting said.

“The Prime Minister is calling those everyday people bullies for holding power to account. Just as he is attacking the ABC and a free press for doing the same.

“Politicians make decisions every day that affect our lives and our environment. Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott might not like it, but everyone has a right to participate in politics.”

Government sources told The Australian yesterday that there was “no doubt” that GetUp’s conduct in the seat of Warringah would be examined by the JSCEM, which is chaired by LNP senator James McGrath.

At the election, GetUp targeted Peter Dutton, Josh Frydenberg, Greg Hunt and Kevin Andrews while high-profile independents such as Kerryn Phelps in the seat of Wentworth benefited from the left-wing group’s campaigning.

Liberal backbencher Nicolle Flint also spoke out last week, blasting the tactics of GetUp as toxic and warning that good candidates would be deterred from entering politics.

Ms Flint and Mr Andrews said they would be making submissions to the JSCEM, which could see office bearers from the activist group hauled before parliament to ­explain their conduct.

During the election campaign, GetUp withdrew an advertisement attacking Mr Abbott by depicting the former prime minister as a lifesaver refusing to rescue a drowning swimmer.

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