A day after an absolute flurry of Aussies received dodgy-looking texts from “Medicare“ that urged them not to vote for the Coalition, the Labor Party has copped to sending the dubious messages out.
Has anyone else received this text message? Is Labor pretending to be Medicare? #ausvotes #democracysausage pic.twitter.com/u5rimbWIPu
— David Lewis (@dlewis89) July 2, 2016
In a statement to Fairfax, the Queensland branch of the party copped to the texts. However, they said they had no intention of labelling Medicare as the apparent source of the messages.
Today’s admission also comes after another Labor spokesperson initially denied having the faintest of clues as to their provenance. Funny, that.
To contextualise this clusterfuck, the messages came after weeks of Labor flogging the Coalition over their apparent desire to privatise (read: gut) Medicare.
Millions of Australians are relying on us to protect Medicare & properly fund schools. This election is about them.https://t.co/8sqNKIW7S8
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) June 29, 2016
Despite constant disavowals from Malcolm Turnbull & Co., the claim eventually became a defining part of the ALP’s campaign.
In a speech made late last night amid the vote-counting quagmire, Turnbull labelled the texts an “extraordinary act of dishonesty”.
“The SMS message came from Medicare. It said it came from Medicare… No doubt the police will investigate.’
Funnily enough, the feds are now involved. According to news.com.au, the Federal Police are looking into that sneaky bit of politicking.
Either the party really did impersonate a vital (and apolitical) part of our healthcare system to rustle up some votes, or somebody really needs to improve their texting etiquette.
Source: news.com.au.
Photo: @dlewis89 / Twitter.
