Punch below the belt, says Hawke

Alex Hawke
MP, Liberal candidate for Mitchell, has condemned Labor candidate for Mitchell,
Andrew Punch for an unfair and false claim about Coalition plans for the GST.

This is a
perfect example of a ‘punch below the belt’, conduct that is plainly unfair and
contrary to good sportsmanship.

All Australians
know that the Coalition has no plans to alter the GST if elected and for Mr
Punch to claim otherwise is plainly wrong, said Alex Hawke.

For Mr
Punch to list everyday items that will rise in price under a mythical GST
increase is blatant fear mongering and insulting to the residents of Mitchell.

Tony
Abbott has been absolutely clear: the GST is not going to change. Instead the Coalition has a plan to abolish
the carbon tax and reduce the cost of living.

Labor
are running a scare campaign. There will be a scare a day and a lie a day from
the Labor Party. The
Australian people should expect a lie a day from an increasingly desperate
Labor Party.

I also
plead with Mr Punch to not ‘punch below the belt’ and instead fight a fair
campaign based on fact.