Libs say sorry for age slur

THE Liberal Party has issued an apology for the divisive agebased election campaign it ran in the Legislative Council division of Pembroke last year.

The campaign targeted independent candidate and Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman and included references to his age, then 71.

It was largely blamed for the upset win by Labor in the Liberal-held seat last November and was widely criticised.

The campaign against Ald Chipman was partly because of his opposition to the State Government’s proposed takeover of Tas Water.

THE Liberal Party has apologised for the divisive age-based election campaign it ran in the Legislative Council division of Pembroke last year.

The party published the apology in the public notices column of yesterday’s Sunday Tasmanian.

“The Liberal Party of Tasmania (Tasmania Division) apologises for any hurt or offence caused to any person arising from the material used before the Pembroke by-election,” the notice said.

The apology was authorised by state party director Sam McQuestin.

The campaign targeted independent candidate and Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman and included references to his age, then 71.

It was largely blamed for the upset win by Labor’s Joan- na Siejka in the Liberal-held seat last November and was widely criticised, including by Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

“I think that targeting an individual certainly backfired. I don’t think there’s any issue at all about that,” he said.

In the wake of the election loss, the Sandy Bay branch of the party wrote a letter that was delivered to the Denison executive and referred to the state executive.

The letter said the campaign had shattered trust and confidence in Mr McQuestin and expressed concerns about the campaign planned for the March 3 state election.

It said the “negative” campaign based on Alderman Chipman’s age went too far and called for a personal apology to be mailed to elderly Liberal Party members.

It said the tactic and its subsequent justification by some leaders showed a lack of leadership and creativity, was disrespectful to a major section of the Liberal Party’s membership base and had damaged the party’s reputation.

The campaign against Ald Chipman was partly because of his opposition to the State Government’s proposed takeover of TasWater.

The Mercury has sought comment from Ald Chipman and Mr McQuestin.