The campaign to win Malcolm Turnbull's former seat has become a "circus" after a Prime Ministerial press conference was hijacked by an independent who used it to backflip on her preferences.
Scott Morrison's office on Friday gave media 45 minutes' notice that he and Liberal candidate Dave Sharma would be visiting a cafe in Double Bay, but, while the candidate and media advisors arrived the prime minister was noticeably absent.
Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps, who runs a doctors' surgery 400 metres away, seized the limelight to host an impromptu news conference.
She told the assembled reporters she'd be directing preferencing to the Liberals in the October 20 vote - backflipping on comments earlier in the week urging voters to put the Liberals last to "send a message".
Dr Phelps' rival independent Angela Vithoulkas said it was "exactly the type of circus voters are sick of" and elected officials needed to act for their electorate rather than the "highest bidder".
"How can anyone trust our politicians when they constantly sell-out for a better deal?" Ms Vithoulkas said in a statement on Friday.
