Libs rapped over knuckles for using image of Pembroke candidate Doug Chipman

THE Tasmanian Liberal Party has breached the Electoral Act in an online advertisement that used an image of independent Pembroke candidate Doug Chipman without his permission.

Doug Chipman is running for the Upper House seat of Pembroke as an independent in next month’s by-election. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE Tasmanian Liberal Party has breached the Electoral Act in an online advertisement that used an image of independent Pembroke candidate Doug Chipman without his permission.

The first shots in the campaign for the Upper House seat of Pembroke were fired last week when the Liberals launched an attack on Ald Chipman, the Clarence Mayor, over comments made about the Government’s proposed TasWater takeover.

The Liberals issued a campaign advertisement on Twitter and a media release last week claiming Ald Chipman had endorsed government policy on TasWater — something he has consistently opposed.

The ad quoted Ald Chipman, a former Liberal Party state president, as saying: “What the Government is intending to do is to lower the price ...”

But the full quote from the ABC Radio interview conveyed a different meaning.

“What the Government is intending to do is to lower the price for this election and their own State Election next year, but, in the long term, Tasmanians will pay more because it is essential that we are able to have sustainable water and sewerage prices,” he said.

A version of the ad using the shortened quote with a photoshopped image of Ald Chipman wearing a shirt with a TasWater logo appeared online.

Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey told the Mercury the advertisement breached section 196 of the Electoral Act, which says a candidate’s name, photograph or likeness cannot be used without their written consent.

“It’s a breach because being published, under the Act, includes on the internet,” Mr Hawkey said.

He said all breaches would be investigated.

Under the Electoral Act, the potential maximum penalty can be a fine of up to $47,700, 12 months in prison or both.

Liberal state director Sam McQuestin said the party would “carefully examine” the electoral commissioner’s ruling. “[It] is different to the previous commissioner’s view that items like this meme did not constitute an advertisement,” he said.

“The request to have the meme removed is even more perplexing, given it was uploaded prior to the issuing of the writs, which raises serious questions about how far back political parties and others will need to delete Facebook and other electronic material when the State Election writs are issued next year.”

Ald Chipman said he was “delighted” the offending ad had been pulled offline.

“It was misquoting what I’d actually said and it’s vital all candidates in this election can fully express their views without interference or fear of being misquoted or put down like that,” he said.