Corruption watchdog bites back at claims of candidate investigation in dirty tricks campaign

The national corruption watchdog has warned against claims that a key Labor candidate is under investigation, making a rare intervention in a growing dispute in one of the dirtiest campaigns of the election.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) issued the warning after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and independent MP Dai Le raised concerns about Labor candidate Tu Le, who is seeking to reclaim the marginal western Sydney seat of Fowler for the government.

Independent member for Fowler Dai Le (left) and her opponent, Labor candidate Tu Le.Credit: Kate Geraghty, Janie Barrett

The move follows a separate dispute involving the Liberal candidate for the seat, Vivek Singha, over social media posts he made that denigrated Indigenous Australians, prompting Labor to call on Dai Le to urge her supporters to put him last on their ballot papers.

Labor lost Fowler to the independent MP at the last election, but is hoping to reverse that outcome on Saturday because it only lost by 2800 votes three years ago.

Some Liberal volunteers appear to be handing out how-to-vote cards for Dai Le, according to photographs and internal party messages seen by this masthead, but her supporters insisted on Tuesday that she did not favour either of the major parties.

The Liberal volunteers include members of the Young Liberals and one member of the party’s supporters at the University of NSW, according to messages exchanged on a group chat and photographs of volunteers at early voting centres.

Dai Le was a local councillor and a member of the Liberal Party after a career as an ABC journalist, but she was suspended from the party in 2016 – and has formally severed ties – after she ran on an independent ticket for Fairfield Council.

Her husband, Markus Lambert, who was also a former member of the party, rejected any suggestion that the independent MP’s campaign was being helped by Liberals.

“Whatever red herring is being pushed, Labor is trying to smear her,” he said.

“We’re running our campaign, we’re independent. I haven’t been a member of the Liberal Party since Dai got kicked out.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who holds the neighbouring seat of McMahon, took aim at the independent candidate over the tactics in Fowler.

“These types of nasty, dishonest tactics are a disservice to the people of western Sydney,” he said.

Dai Le declined to comment, saying she was busy at polling centres, but she has joined others in criticising her Labor opponent over corruption claims involving several government grants made to a local community organisation.

“The most important issue that people are talking about here now is: why isn’t the PM doing something about his pick Tu Le, who’s being investigated by NACC?” she told this masthead.

Dutton also raised the corruption claims in a press conference on Monday when he was asked to condemn the remarks by the Liberal candidate in Fowler.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor candidate for Fowler, Tu Le (in red jacket), during a visit to Freedom Plaza in Cabramatta on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Dutton said: “The Labor candidate in Fowler, as I understand it, has been referred to the corruption commission, so I’m not going to take a lecture from the prime minister.”

This masthead asked Dai Le if she rejected Singha’s offensive remarks, but she declined to respond.

The comments by Dai Le and Dutton followed reports in the media saying that those who referred Tu Le to the NACC over allegations related to a youth organisation the Labor candidate co-founded had been asked to provide further information to the commission.

The NACC does not confirm or deny referrals, given that any individual can refer someone to the commission, but it issued a warning in March against anyone trying to gain a political advantage by revealing a referral.

A woman walks past defaced corflutes for independent MP for Fowler Dai Le.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Asked by this masthead about Tu Le, the commission’s media officer said: “It would be wrong to infer that the commission is investigating a matter because it has requested further information from a referrer.”

The NACC spokesperson said the commission might seek further information from someone who made a referral, but added: “That does not mean that the commission has decided to investigate the matter.”

Dai Le has issued how-to-vote leaflets with an illustration that asks voters to put “1” next to her name and then give their preferences to the Libertarian Party, Family First, the Liberals, Labor, One Nation and the Greens in that order. This means the Liberals gain preferences before Labor.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticised Dai Le for preferencing a candidate who had made racially abusive remarks.

“It’s concerning that Dai Le is more committed to supporting the Liberals than standing up to this racism,” she said.

While Dai Le’s supporters blamed Labor for smearing the independent candidate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed the Liberals for the personal attacks on Tu Le.

“Despite the dirt unit work the Liberal Party will do, Tu Le is someone of extraordinary capacity and integrity,” he said while campaigning on Tuesday.

“She has been involved in not-for-profit community-based organisations in her local community for a long period of time. She will make an extraordinary local member.”

In a further escalation of the conflict in the electorate, Dai Le’s ally and local Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone accused unidentified people in Labor of circulating her home address online.

“The federal police will look into it,” Carbone said.

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