The Weatherill Government's hyper 'what ever it takes' 2014 campaign

Negative campaign tactics are particularly odious when they play upon racist sentiment in the community, often referred to as 'dog whistle politics'. Among the more infamous examples we recall the 2007 national election in the NSW metropolitan seat of Lindsay. Here a bogus pamphlet purporting to be authored by the "Islamic Federation of Australia" was circulated by local Liberal Party campaigners with its claim that "We gratefully acknowledge Labor's support to forgive our Muslim brothers who have been unjustly sentenced to death for the Bali bombings". The leaflet's authorship and distribution was not officially sanctioned by the Liberal Party being the work of local level campaigners, notably Liberal incumbent MP Jackie Kelly's husband. Prime Minister Howard condemned the leaflet and all those associated with its distribution were subsequently expelled from the Liberal Party. Arguably such contrition ought to be instructive to Premier Weatherill and newly elected MP, Annabel Digance.

On the other side of the coin, is the question of the 'beneficiary' of such tactics. Labor candidate, Digance was running in Elder having failed at the previous two national elections to unseat the Liberals in Boothby. I interviewed Digance last September during the national election campaign and at the time was impressed by her credibility and determination – the hours spent toiling away trying to unseat a long serving incumbent deserves our respect for, in my view, such effort is rarely given the recognition it deserves.

Nevertheless, some six months later, and probably out of desperation to win, Digance consented to the leaflet's distribution. That is a shame as this lapse in judgment now blights her time as an MP. She simply did not win, 'fair and square', a notion that should apply notwithstanding the pervasiveness of negative attack advertising. I don't know the degree of pressure she may have endured to agree to the leaflet's distribution. This is something that ought to be revealed for it might clear her name, somewhat. It appears that campaign strategy in Elder was prepared to 'dog whistle' well before the campaign commenced. Abbott Government minister, Christopher Pyne, said on local ABC breakfast radio that a senior ALP politician had informed him many months earlier to expect "a thinly veiled racist attack on Carolyn Habib".

Pyne's viewpoint is supported by as Liberal leader in the State Upper House, David Ridgeway, who informed me that another Labor MP said much the same to him.

Entertaining campaign dirty tricks is unbecoming at the best of times but unlikely to go away, rather it is a matter of degree. Labor federal MP Ed Husic called for an apology and I hope this is noted by Digance in her maiden speech due in the next fortnight because Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib deserves some contrition from Labor; in fact, we all do.

Australian democratic practice, as expressed during election campaigns, needs to be mindful of the foundations that underpin the social cohesion and not seek to exploit undercurrents that work in the opposite direction. Five decades of laudable bipartisanship in our Parliament explains why multiculturalism and racial tolerance are, for the most part, deeply embedded in contemporary Australia.

Accordingly,with the 53^rd South Australian Parliament meeting this month week the opportunity presents for Premier Weatherill to demonstrate some contrition in relation to the treatment candidate Habib endured and rule it out in future. In essence, if a line cannot be drawn through this type of campaign tactic it is likely that many people with excellent credentials and cause to run for public office will simply shy away. That consequence ought to weigh upon the minds of those who, in the heat of campaigning, plot the negative pitch.