A West Australian Liberal candidate has apologised after he was caught out pretending to be a talkback caller while criticising opposition leader Mark McGowan, which the premier labelled a silly political stunt.
Wade De Campo, a Liberal party South West region candidate and shire president of Manjimup, phoned ABC South West on Monday while Mr McGowan took caller questions, saying he was concerned about Labor's renewable energy targets and their plans for state debt.
But ABC producers recognised the voice of "John from Collie" as that of Mr De Campo.
"There won't be a future for coal and power generation in Collie if you have a 50 per cent renewable target," he said.
"How are you going to reduce state debt without selling Western Power?
"I'm just a person on the street and it seems to me your assumptions on your debt reduction program don't seem to add up because they're just assumptions.
"I'm really concerned."
Mr McGowan answered the questions and laughed it off when interviewer Clare Negus stated who the caller actually was, saying "good on you Wade - nice one".
But he later spoke dimly about the stunt to reporters and asked if it was authorised by Premier Colin Barnett and the Liberals.
"It's pretty poor form when you have dishonesty and desperation by candidates less than two weeks out from the election," he told journalists.
Both Mr De Campo and Mr Barnett said the call was not party-approved.
"I acknowledge that earlier today I made a serious error of judgement," Mr De Campo said in an emailed statement.
"My actions were not authorised by the Liberal Party and I apologise for any embarrassment and offence that was caused."
Mr Barnett said the candidate's actions were regrettable and silly, but Mr De Campo had apologised and that was the end of the matter.
The premier admitted he was surprised, saying Mr De Campo was a good man who had achieved a lot in the Manjimup district.
"It was the wrong thing to do," Mr Barnett said.
"I don't expect people to use a false name.
"We all make mistakes."
Mr Barnett didn't deny it was a political stunt.
"Sometime silly things happen in campaigns."
The premier denounced political stunts on Sunday when he unwittingly posed for a photograph at the Rottnest Channel Swim with four women who had #putlibslast and "drowning in debt" written down their arms.
Share
