Press Releases

Greens slam Liberal dirty tricks but welcome scrutiny 17.9.04

The Liberal Party has stepped up its attack on The Greens, circulating a deceptive leaflet about The Greens in key marginal seats including Greenway.

The glossy leaflet, which contains misrepresentations of Greens policy, makes no reference to the Liberal Party. But the leaflet is authorised by Scott Morrison, who is the director of the NSW Liberal Party.

“The Greens deplore the Liberals’ negative, smear-based approach to the election campaign,” said Greens candidate for Greenway, Astrid O’Neill. “I referred to the leaflet in my speech at a well attended community forum on aged and special needs care at Blacktown Council on Thursday. The Liberal candidate did not take the opportunity to respond, and did not deny that the leaflet comes from the Liberals.

“We welcome the fact that the Liberals are now treating The Greens as a serious contender, and are using the kind of dirty tricks they usually save for the Labor Party. Our commitment to restoring the values of a fair and compassionate Australia, with equity for Australians who need better public services and infrastructure, is seen by the Liberals as a direct threat. They know that’s a weak spot for them. Greenway is a marginal electorate, our preferences could decide the outcome, and so the Liberals have resorted to this smear campaign.”

“It would have been more ethical and transparent for Louise Markus, as the Liberal candidate, to put her name on the leaflet for authorisation”, said Ms O’Neill.

“Both Labor and the Coalition are waging fierce campaigns against The Greens. They know that we represent a real alternative to both major parties.

“The leaflet misrepresents Greens policies by quoting a false and misleading Herald Sun headline on our drugs policy. The Greens do not encourage drug use. We support turning drugs from a criminal issue into a health issue, which would cut drug-related crime and wipe out dealers’ profits.

“The leaflet also falsely claims that we support an inheritance tax on family homes. Our policy is for an inheritance tax on estates worth over $2 million – hardly the average family home.

“The leaflet also selectively quotes to create misleading impressions of our MPs and policies.

“It’s typical Liberal dirty tactics. But so far every effort to smear The Greens has only increased voter interest in the alternative we offer,” Astrid O’Neill said.

“ We urge people to look at our policies on our web site at www.greens.org.au/policies, and make up their minds for themselves.

For more information on the activities of the Blacktown Greens
in the Blacktown and Mount Druitt regions, New South Wales. Australia
please email or phone 02 9835 1882

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Last updated: Thursday, November 1, 2007

Written and authorised by D. Cunningham, 134 Doonside Road, Doonside NSW