{"id":47388,"date":"2019-05-12T19:38:57","date_gmt":"2019-05-12T09:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=47388"},"modified":"2022-05-02T12:45:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T02:45:59","slug":"lib-steveforindi-wont-come-clean-on-dirty-coal-collusion-jansant-reports-on-indivotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/lib-steveforindi-wont-come-clean-on-dirty-coal-collusion-jansant-reports-on-indivotes\/","title":{"rendered":"Lib @SteveForIndi won’t come clean on dirty coal, collusion: @jansant reports on #IndiVotes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Liberal candidate for Indi Steve Martin has refused to answer questions about his campaign’s collusion with Cory Bernardi’s far right Australian Conservatives, or his support for brown coal power stations, when asked at Wodonga pre-poll on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Fibs<\/em>: So you’re refusing to answer any questions on anything, is that it?
Martin: Yes that’s right. <\/p>Full transcript and audio below<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Last Friday, while reporting for No Fibs<\/em> I caught a senior member of Martin’s campaign team setting up pre-poll at Wangaratta for Bernardi’s Liberal breakaway party Australian Conservatives<\/a>, placing the parties’ signs side-by-side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the Liberals having three senate candidates running in Victoria, Martin’s team helping to elect senate candidates for Bernardi’s party seemed odd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I contacted the state branch of the Liberal Party on the same day for comment, and was told they would call back; but because there was no response (and still hasn’t been one), I decided to try getting answers in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day at Wodonga pre-poll, when I approached Martin for comment his minder attempted to keep me away. I stood my ground, keeping my attention on Martin while asking him questions, but the minder put pressure on my shoulder with his hand to move me away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I resisted and kept up the line of questioning in the audio clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Liberal Wangaratta branch president Stephen Hill placing Cory Bernardi’s far right Australian Conservatives A-frame signs beside Liberal Candidate Steve Martin’s. Photo: Wayne Jansson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Questions for Indi Lib Steve Martin<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Why are you campaigning to elect Australian Conservative senate candidates instead of Liberal Party candidates?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do Victorian Liberal Party senate candidates feel about their campaigns being undermined by your campaign working to elect senators for another party?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was your campaign team’s collusion with Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives sanctioned by the Victorian or national executive of the Liberal Party?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from Wangaratta branch members, who in the Liberal Party knew about and\/or approved of your campaign team colluding with Australian Conservatives?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full audio<\/h4>\n\n\n\n