Turnbull stands by Trevor Ruthenberg, who says he ‘screwed up’ in claiming he won a medal for distinguished military service

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Malcolm Turnbull has said the Liberal National party candidate for Longman, Trevor Ruthenberg, made an “honest mistake” in claiming to have won a medal for distinguished military service instead of a lesser honour for long service.

The revelation by the Courier Mail on Tuesday deals a blow to “Big Trev’s” campaign, which has been riding high following polling showing he is running neck-and-neck with Labor’s Susan Lamb and One Nation’s decision to preference the LNP candidate.

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According to the Queensland parliament’s website Ruthenberg, a former MP in the Newman government, has won an Australian service medal, a distinction awarded for service in or in connection with a non-war operation such as peacekeeping.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Biography of former state MP Trevor Ruthenberg on Queensland parliament website captured on 17 July 2018. Photograph: Queensland parliament websiteQueensland parliament website

Ruthenberg was an air-frame fitter and engineer in the 38th squadron of the Royal Australian Airforce, achieving the rank of corporal. Although his campaign material does not refer to his having won a service medal, he does refer to his record of having “served Australia for six years” in campaign videos.

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On Tuesday the Courier Mail reported that Ruthenberg had not won an Australian service medal but rather an Australian defence medal, which is awarded to people who have completed four years of service.

Turnbull told 3AW Radio Ruthenberg had “made an innocent mistake”, was “very embarrassed about it” and had “apologised profusely”.

“He misdescribed the medal that he had been awarded ... Big Trev is as honest and straight as he is big – and he is big,” Turnbull said.

“He’s very proud of his service in the airforce ... I’ve spoken to him about it this morning and I’m satisfied it’s an honest mistake.”

Ruthenberg reportedly responded to the report by claiming he had “absolutely no clue” how the mistake had occurred but conceding he may have “screwed up’’.

“If I screwed up then I screwed up and all I can do is apologise,” he told the Courier Mail. “It was certainly not intentional and I respect the uniform way too much to claim I earned something I didn’t.”

“I don’t have the source documents. If the source documents are wrong then I apologise for that ... If I made the mistake, I made the mistake.”

Five byelections will be contested on 28 July, with the Coalition a chance to recapture Labor-held marginals Longman and Braddon in Tasmania.

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The byelections were triggered by resignations when the high court ruled that having taken “reasonable steps” to renounce foreign citizenship was not sufficient to escape the constitutional disqualification on dual citizens in parliament.

Labor has campaigned aggressively against Ruthenberg, warning voters if he is elected he will move from being “Newman’s yes man ... to be Malcolm Turnbull’s yes man”.

Turnbull has framed the contest as a choice between him or Bill Shorten, claiming his economic policies would result in higher taxes, fewer jobs, lower wages and less economic growth.

Guardian Australia has contacted Ruthenberg for comment.