Postcard from the edge of a Liberal loss

The Liberal Party is sending postcards addressed to Wentworth voters mocked up as a newspaper called The Uncertain Times.

The Wentworth debate on Tuesday night hosted by the Jewish Board of Deputies, with candidates including main rivals Kerryn Phelps and Dave Sharma. Picture: James Croucher

The Liberal Party is sending personally addressed postcards to Wentworth voters mocked up as a newspaper called The Uncertain Times — saying “Phelps’ Wentworth win delivers hung parliament” — in a desperate bid to claw back some votes for Saturday’s by-election.

The postcard goes as far as to warn of a Labor minority government should Independent Kerryn Phelps beat Liberal Dave Sharma.

The Australian revealed yesterday that Liberal Party polling had Mr Sharma behind Dr Phelps 55-45 on a two-party-preferred basis, despite the fact that 75 per cent of Wentworth electors expected Mr Sharma to win the seat.

The pretend newspaper article in the postcard says: “Australia now has a hung parliament, after Kerryn Phelps won yesterday’s Wentworth by-election on the back of preferences from Labor and minor parties.

“Horse trading has now begun between Bill Shorten and crossbenchers from the Greens, Centre Alliance and Bob Katter, as Labor pushes to form a minority government. Local small businesses, retirees and investors have expressed fresh concern about the impact of Labor’s proposed tax increases, while exporters and employers expressed concern over new powers for the CFMEU and Maritime Union. Questions are now arising about how Phelps’ votes will impact the deadlocked parliament.”

On the other side of the postcard, the Liberal Party says: “Polls show this by-election is extremely close. With a one-seat majority, a Phelps win would mean a hung parliament. A hung parliament would mean greater uncertainty. Labor and Independents would mean a weaker economy and higher taxes for local small businesses, retirees and families. Don’t Risk It.”

Meanwhile, Mr Sharma has been asked to withdraw his campaign flyers by a senior Jewish community leader quoted on them because they featured unauthorised endorsements on the material distributed to letterboxes around Wentworth. NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Lesli Berger released a statement yesterday clarifying that he “did not agree to my public comments being used on a campaign flyer” and he had “requested that the flyer be withdrawn”.

Mr Berger’s quote on the flyers was made last week, in relation to a Liberal announcement of $2.2 million in security funding for Jewish buildings and institutions in NSW.

“I have publicly thanked Mr Sharma and the federal government for recognising our security needs ... however, that public appreciation and the statement itself do not amount to an endorsement,” Mr Berger said.

At a candidates’ forum on Tuesday night, organised by the Jewish community, Mr Sharma rejected an accusation by Jackie Stricker-Phelps, the wife Dr Phelps, that he used quotes by Mr Berger and a prominent rabbi without their permission. Mr Sharma said yesterday: “All quotes used were on the public record or authorised for release to the public, however we regret any misunderstandings.”