Complaint filed about smear campaign against independent Airlie Keen
The Electoral Commission of SA has been asked to investigate a Labor website claiming to educate voters about “Airlie’s true colours”.
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The Electoral Commission of South Australia has been asked to investigate a smear campaign targeting independent candidate Airlie Keen in the lead-up to Saturday’s state election.
Some residents of the electorate of Hammond have reportedly received text messages directing them to a website with the headline “Airlie’s true colours”.
The website, created by the Labor Party, highlights Ms Keen’s previous connections to the Liberal Party.
A domain name registry search by Murray Bridge News suggested the website was only created last Monday – the same day the ECSA published the how-to-vote cards candidates will hand out on polling day.
Ms Keen’s how-to-vote card urges voters to preference the Liberals second on their ballot papers, ahead of Labor.
But Ms Keen objected to any suggestion she still had links with the Liberals, and denied that she and Mr Pederick had formally agreed to a preference swap.
She had previously been a member of the Liberal Party, she acknowledged.
But she had quit in July 2020 – a date she clarified to Murray Bridge News after giving a more vague answer at a Hammond election forum last week.
“I ran as an independent four years ago because I believe in independent politics,” she said at the forum.
“Independent politics gets results.”
A Labor supporter in the audience had asked whether she would ever consider rejoining the Liberals, if elected.
“I don’t want to be associated with either of the major parties,” she said.
“I’m going to remain independent, I’m happy to give you that guarantee.”
Ms Keen has worked for decades in the office of the Member for Kavel – currently independent Dan Cregan, but previously Liberals Mark Goldsworthy and John Olsen.
Asked about the website, a Labor Party spokesperson said the people of Hammond deserved a representative who was transparent and accountable.
“Given Ms Keen’s inability to clarify how she has determined her preferences, and her inability to give a clear answer about when she left the Liberal Party, her versions of events should be treated with great scepticism,” they said.
“We understand why Ms Keen is ashamed of her decades-long relationship with the shambolic Liberal Party, but those are the choices she made.”
Ms Keen told Murray Bridge News on Wednesday she had not heard back from the electoral commission since making a complaint about the website last week.
The ECSA aims to deal with complaints within five business days, according to its website.
Asked whether it had received or responded to Ms Keen’s complaint, an electoral commission spokesperson declined to comment.
