MP’s husband fronts Labor volunteers over banned sign

The husband of MP Dai Le has fronted members of the ALP after the party was banished from using a misleading sign of Ms Le alongside Peter Dutton in Fowler. WATCH the exclusive video.

Cabramatta MP Dai Le (pictured) is facing a strong challenge at the poll from ALP candidate Tu Le. Picture: Richard Dobson

The husband of Fowler MP Dai Le has fronted Labor volunteers after the party was blocked from using a sign which linked Ms Le to opposition leader Peter Dutton.

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) had contacted the ALP to advise them not to use an authorised sign reading “a vote for Dai Le is a vote for Dutton” on polling day.

In the video, which is filmed by Ms Le’s husband Markus Lambert, he is seen approaching a Labor volunteer hub in Canley Vale on Friday night.

“Can I just let you know something as the official Labor team. The AEC has just declared that the poster... is against the AEC rule of influencing voters. They have just emailed the ALP. You check with them” Mr Lambert says.

“Are you always this rude? I have never meant a ruder individual than you” the ALP volunteer responds.

“I am telling you now - the poster you are putting out about my wife... ” Mr Lambert says.

“You have no right to actually come here and talk to us like this. It’s time for you to leave. Bye, have a wonderful day” the volunteer responds.

Mr Lambert declined to comment.

On Friday morning a volunteer spotted the hidden sign, featuring a photo of the independent Fowler MP alongside Mr Dutton, and immediately raised the alarm. Legal letters were then fired off from Ms Le’s campaign team to the AEC.

“We hereby ask you to immediately request ALP to cease distributing and/or erecting the material. It is noted at the last federal election the ALP attempted to use a similar sign. The AEC at that time ruled that the material was misleading and prohibited the ALP from using that material,” the legal letter reads.

The sign — which appears to have been authorised by ALP HQ — had the words “a vote for Dai Le is a vote for Dutton”, which lawyers for Ms Le’s campaign said had the potential to “mislead or deceive an elector”.

A sign seen in Fowler linking independent Dai Le to Peter Dutton, which was seen by a volunteer. The AEC has ordered the Labor Party not to display it. Picture: Supplied

In a response seen by The Saturday Telegraph, the Electoral Commission’s legal team confirmed the poster may infringe the Commonwealth Electoral Act.

“We have received this complaint and written to the party responsible for the signs, asking for the signs to be removed from polling places and not displayed at any polling places tomorrow,” the AEC said.

The seat of Fowler was won by Dai Le in 2022 after the independent upset Kristina Keneally, who had been parachuted in by Labor.

However, the incumbent faces a much greater challenge this time around from the ALP’s new candidate Tu Le.

Labor Senator Tony Sheldon at the polling booth in Fowler. Picture: Supplied

Fowler was also the location of a separate incident at pre-poll voting on Friday.

Prominent Labor Senator Tony Sheldon kept his cool in a confrontation with two volunteers, who bizarrely accused him of making “disparaging comments about someone’s religion”.

“Every time you make a disparaging comment about someone’s religion … I will confront you” the man filming tells Mr Sheldon.

There is nothing in the video sent to this masthead that indicates what — if anything — Mr Sheldon said to draw this criticism, which he refuted.

“That is simply untrue. You’ve been yelling at me now for 35 minutes,” Mr Sheldon responds.

“I know you’re trying to stand over me. But I’m going to keep handing out and giving people an opportunity to work out which way they want to vote.”

The man filming replied: “Tony, no one stands over you — you’re a pretty tall bloke.

“As long as you don’t abuse other people for their religious beliefs, we have no problem.”

Mr Sheldon declined to comment when approached on Friday.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as MP’s husband fronts Labor volunteers over banned sign