OPINION
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fake news is being spread on social media as Australia inches closer to the edge of the noxious sewer that is political campaigning US-style.
And Warren Mundine - the former Labor president parachuted in to Gilmore for the Liberals - is right among it.
Fake news was used to devastating effect by Donald Trump's backers to discredit opponents, and then in a final insult to the truth, became Trump's favourite comeback to a news story he didn't like. Even if it were completely true.
And now it's here - to the extent that the Australian Electoral commission has even warned people to check the source of information during the campaign. So let's do that.
On Tuesday Mundine tweeted: "A Bill Shorten government wants to force you to install an electric vehicle charging station whenever you build or renovate your home, whether you drive an electric car or not. This will cost homeowners thousands."
This came from a Liberal campaign attack, placed in the Daily Telegraph as an "exclusive" on what the Liberals "will warn voters today", on May 2.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor then took it up on radio. He was asked: "if you put in a new bathroom in the back of the joint, you've got to stick a car charging facility in your garage?".
"Exactly right," said Taylor.
It will cost us all thousands. Egad!
Except it's not true.
The story was dismissed as a "laughable lie" by Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari, who said the NSW Liberal Government had this policy already, and who said ministers should be above this kind of nonsense.
But that doesn't on its own prove the claim wrong. So let's go a little further.
The source was Labor's transport policy, which said a Labor government would "work with states to ensure new and refurbished commercial and residential developments include electric vehicle charging capacity".
Nothing that says any renovation must include three-phase power charge stations.
It's fair to conclude that new housing estates, or large commercial developments, could require a charge station to be built under Labor. But every little home renovation? Kids sitting the Year 3 NAPLAN reading comprehension test today wouldn't fall for that.
But integrity, dignity, be damned. It's winner take all, any way you can.
Lack imagination? No problem. Any policy to change anything is a "big new tax".
End negative gearing? "Housing tax!".
Boosting renewables? "Electricity tax!".
Working with states for electric car infrastructure? "Housing tax! Again!"
Because, as the AEC has made clear, there's no requirement in the electoral rules that campaign communication must be true. (If that changes folks, please consider this a job application).
You know your scare campaign has gone too far when poor old Kerry-Anne says a Labor win might "end life as we know it".
"Honestly, without question," she said.
Urgh. Pass me the stomach pump, fast forward to Saturday and let's get this thing over with - before Clive has time to buy up every screen you will ever see, forever.
