Australia’s Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has decried a move by the Liberal-National coalition party (LNP) after it registered a web address bearing his name.
The web address albanese.com.au is registered to a “Sam Jackson” from the LNP. But in a trick Albanese referred to as a “childish,” the site redirects visitors to the LNP’s official website, liberal.org.au.
Albanese said this kind of tactic, which has come to light just days before the federal election campaign is expected to kick-off, was “not on” in a democracy such as Australia. He added that voters would not be fooled.
“This is a test of integrity for Scott Morrison and for the Liberal Party ... I think people should behave in a reasonably adult way,” he told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
“It is childish; it is an example of this government just being not in a position to advance its own agenda, being embarrassed by its own record and having no agenda for the future.”
The national Labor leader called on the LNP to undo the action, saying it would show a lack of integrity if the redirect remained.
“It will also show that this government will continue engaging in scare campaigns, tricks, misinformation (and) we will see more of it going forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the LNP campaign told the AAP: “We’re glad to see the domain name has been promoted so heavily, which has helped to spread the message about the Morrison government’s achievements.”
“The domain name was acquired appropriately, and it’s a matter for Mr Albanese to answer why he hadn’t registered this domain if he wanted to use it.”
