Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has taken aim at Labor's candidate for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain, after a campaign ad claimed she would be a "local voice for Wagga Wagga".
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Mr McCormack, who is from Wagga Wagga and is the federal MP for the area, took exception to Labor's advertisement in the Daily Advertiser on Thursday urging people to vote one for the Bega mayor in the July 4 byelection. The Daily Advertiser is owned by Australian Community Media, publisher of this masthead.
The Nationals leader pointed out the city was not even in the electorate and was more than 100 kilometres from former Labor member Mike Kelly's old electorate office in Tumut.
"In fact, since Federation in 1901, Wagga Wagga has never been in the electorate of Eden-Monaro. If you don't even know which towns you're seeking to represent, you cannot be an effective advocate for your community," Mr McCormack said.
However Ms McBain's camp pointed out the paper - which Mr McCormack was once the editor of - is read by people in Tumut and Batlow, which is part of the Eden-Monaro electorate.
"This was a mistake made at the design stage and should have said Tumut. Tumut, Adelong and Batlow and surrounds has a big readership of the Wagga Advertiser," a spokeswoman said.
The Nationals are attempting to turn the byelection into a three-cornered contest, with Queanbeyan-Palerang councillor Trevor Hicks standing for the party against Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs and Ms McBain for Labor.
