Independent candidate dismisses ‘dirty tricks’ alleging she has HIV and is pulling out of the race

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Kerryn Phelps, the leading independent candidate in the Wentworth byelection, has become the target of smear campaign in which emails have been sent to various organisations alleging she has HIV and has pulled out of the race.

The emails reported on the ABC said Phelps had been diagnosed with HIV on Tuesday and that voters should now divert their vote to the Liberal candidate, Dave Sharma.

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A ReachTel poll published on Wednesday showed that Sharma’s primary vote was falling with three days to go before polling on Saturday and that the Liberals were in danger of losing the traditionally ultra-safe seat in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs.

The ABC report said it had learned of the campaign from Professor John Daly at the University of Technology Sydney, who was one of 98 staff at the university to receive the emails.

Phelps said she had become aware of the emails.

“I knew there would be dirty tricks but this is pretty low” she said. “I am still in the race with my health intact … I would not want this to deter other women going into public life.”

The ABC reported it had tracked the origin of the email and had found the owner of the IP address was Australia Sydney Vocus Group. A spokesman for Vocus said it could have come from any one of its 500,000 Dodo or iPrimus email accounts.

A spokesman for the Liberal party said: “The Liberal party Wentworth campaign had absolutely no involvement with the sending of this email. We condemn vile personal smears of this nature.”

The ALP candidate, Tim Murray, said he condemned the email.

“There is absolutely no place for this type of malicious false campaign material in our democracy,” he said.

The email included some bizarre phrases that raised the possibility it was the act of an attention-seeking individual.